Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Thursday 7 November 2024
Question Period focused heavily on health care access and system failures, particularly in rural areas. The Opposition raised cases of denied rehabilitation, long ambulance wait times, unclaimed bodies in hospital freezers, and shortages of family doctors. Additional topics included fire safety inspections, English as an additional language (EAL) teacher shortages, paid sick leave, and wage equity for health care workers. The House conducted routine business including Members' Statements honouring community initiatives, veterans, and local heroes. Ministers tabled reports and made statements on Remembrance Day and infrastructure projects. The House debated and passed second reading of two bills: one exempting the Canadian Dental Care Plan from insurance tax, and another repealing the Municipal Financing Corporation Act. Petitions addressed education support, mental health access, health care worker wages, policing, wind energy consultation, and cellphone coverage.
Members' Statements
Community chicken harvest in Campbells Creek
T. Wakeham
Recognized Gary MacDonald and neighbours in Campbells Creek who have revived a community tradition of raising and harvesting broiler chickens together over the past three years.
Remembrance Day tribute to veterans
L. Parrott
Paid tribute to all soldiers, sailors, and airmen past and present, reflecting on the sacrifices made for peace and freedom, and specifically thanked colleague Lin Paddock for his military service.
Harvey Weir, education pioneer
J. Dinn
Honoured the late Harvey Weir, a lifelong educator and innovator who pioneered distance education, led schools into the internet age through STEM~Net, and taught button accordion until shortly before his death at 81.
Zachary Senior's act of heroism
J. Dwyer
Recognized 15-year-old Zachary Senior who saved himself, his brother Ben, and mother Jennifer from a burning vehicle after a collision on Red Harbour River West Bridge by kicking open jammed doors.
Dan Gambin, musician and volunteer
S. Gambin-Walsh
Celebrated 83-year-old Dan Gambin of Jerseyside, Placentia, who despite a dementia diagnosis continues to volunteer his musical talents with the Best Kind band at community events.
Routine Proceedings
Tabling of Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board Annual Report
A. Parsons
Tabled the 2023-2024 Annual Report for the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board as required by the Atlantic Accord Implementation Act.
Response on elevator inspection backlog
E. Loveless
Clarified previous day's response on elevator inspection backlog, noting market adjustments for positions, three full-time positions with one nearing certification, and promised to announce additional measures to address the backlog.
Petition on inclusive education support
E. Joyce
Presented petition on insufficient student assistant hours and classroom accommodations, commending the minister for agreeing to review individual cases where parents feel support is inadequate.
Petition on mental health care access in Northern Labrador
L. Evans
Presented petition calling for timely mental health care in Northern Labrador, highlighting intergenerational trauma, high suicide rates, and the stress caused by inadequate medical travel arrangements leaving patients stranded.
Petition for equal treatment of health care workers
J. Dinn
Presented CUPE petition calling for living wages for all health care support workers, criticizing government's piecemeal approach that made deals with PCAs while leaving other workers behind.
Petition to reinstate Carmanville RCMP detachment
J. McKenna
Presented petition from Carmanville area residents citing increased crime and long response times since detachment closure over a year ago, with policing now provided from Gander an hour away.
Petition to delay renewable energy projects
P. Lane
Presented petition with over 3,000 signatures calling for delay of all renewable energy projects until comprehensive legislation is enacted covering consultation, environmental requirements, benefit distribution, and compensation.
Response to renewable energy petition
A. Parsons
Provided extensive response defending government's renewable energy approach, clarifying that no Crown land has been awarded, all projects must pass environmental assessment, legislation is coming within weeks, and countering specific claims in circulated materials about health impacts and consultation.
Petition on cellphone coverage deterioration
L. O'Driscoll
Presented petition on deteriorating cellphone coverage from Goulds to St. Shotts, noting multiple dead zones throughout the district despite high costs paid by consumers for service.
Response to cellphone coverage petition
A. Parsons
Agreed that cellphone service has degraded province-wide this summer, acknowledged federal jurisdiction limits provincial action, but committed to working with providers and finding collaborative solutions to address inadequate service.
Question Period
Denial of rehabilitation for stroke patient on West Coast
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier stated he cannot comment on specific clinical cases, trusts medical professionals to direct care, and offered to speak with the family directly if they wish to provide details or file a complaint.
Lack of doctor and nurse practitioner in Cape St. George
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by J. Hogan
The Minister acknowledged recruitment and retention challenges in rural areas but said the department works daily on the issue, with incentives in place and an increase in physicians and nurses coming to the province.
Senior couple losing family doctor after only eight months
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by J. Hogan
The Minister cited the Health Accord NL as the plan for health care, noted that the Patient Connect wait-list has decreased, and said the number will continue to go down.
Number of bodies in freezers at Health Sciences Centre parking garage
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by J. Hogan
The Minister said he cannot disclose the exact number for privacy reasons but acknowledged the issue and pointed to Bill 85, which will close a legislative loophole preventing proper handling of unclaimed remains.
Nearly one-hour ambulance wait for medical emergency in Bonavista
Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by J. Hogan
The Minister said no one should wait that long, acknowledged the issue, and stated that integrating road and air ambulance services province-wide will improve response times and coverage.
Ambulance response to CBS shooting victim
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by J. Hogan
The Minister expressed sympathy, said he does not know if an ambulance arrived because he lacks identifying details, and invited the family to contact him directly. He reiterated that ambulance integration will prevent such failures.
Assistance for families displaced by Driftwood Inn fire
Asked by P. Forsey · Answered by A. Furey and K. Howell
The Premier said the department was working to replace lost items and offered to follow up. The Minister of Education encouraged families to contact the department directly to replace school devices like Chromebooks.
Fire commissioner's interim report and last fire inspection of Driftwood Inn
Asked by C. Tibbs · Answered by B. Davis
The Minister said an investigation is ongoing with the fire commissioner and RCMP, and the report will be released when received. He noted that commercial property owners are responsible for fire code compliance, not the department.
Approval delays for English as an Additional Language (EAL) positions and software
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by K. Howell
The Minister said resources are allocated based on individual student assessments, noted an increase of 26 EAL units over last year, and confirmed seven additional positions have been approved with recruitment ongoing.
Paid sick leave legislation for workers
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by B. Davis
The Minister said the government remains open to discussions with unions and employers and will make adjustments to labour standards when commonality is found.
Wage equity and bonuses for health care support workers
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by S. Coady
The Minister thanked public service workers, noted that 30 collective agreements have been reached, and said the government remains open to ongoing negotiations with unions.
Orders of the Day
First reading of Bill 94 (Law Enforcement Articles Act)
J. Hogan
Introduced Bill 94, An Act Respecting the Management of Law Enforcement Articles, Uniforms, Vehicle Markings and Vehicle Equipment, which received first reading.
Second reading debate on Bill 89 (Revenue Administration Act amendment)
Multiple
Minister Coady introduced amendments to exempt the Canadian Dental Care Plan from the 5% insurance companies tax, preventing unintended taxation of this federal social program serving over 52,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Opposition members Paddock and Brown supported the amendment. Bill passed second reading.
Second reading debate on Bill 88 (Municipal Financing Corporation Act repeal)
Multiple
Minister Coady introduced legislation to repeal the Municipal Financing Corporation Act and wind up the corporation established in 1964, noting municipalities now access financing through banks and provincial grants. The province has increased municipal operating grants by 30% to $28 million and provides $173 million for infrastructure. Opposition members Tibbs and Brown supported the repeal. Bill passed second reading.
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.