Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Wednesday 13 November 2024
Question Period focused heavily on the government's handling of a new hospital site purchase, with the Opposition challenging the lack of tendering and the $23 million price tag for land adjacent to Crown property. Additional topics included allegations of health authority staff profiting from travel nurse housing, delays in pay equity regulations, and concerns over seniors' access to housing and health care. The House introduced two new bills (Bill 95 and Bill 96) at first reading and passed four bills at third reading. The main substantive debate was on Bill 83 (Medical Act amendments) at second reading, which will enable regulation of physician assistants and make changes to the NLMA membership process. Bill 92 (Engineers and Geoscientists Act amendments) was read a second time, passed through Committee of the Whole without amendment, and ordered for third reading. The sitting concluded with Private Members' Business, where the NDP's motion to remove the provincial HST from home heating was debated but not supported by government.
Members' Statements
38th Annual Darryl Reid Memorial Hockey Tournament
B. Petten
Recognized the tournament held in Conception Bay South honouring Darryl Reid, who died on the Ocean Ranger 42 years ago. The tournament is the longest-running school hockey tournament in the province.
Claire Foss - Volunteer and Academic Achievement
P. Forsey
Recognized Claire Foss of Botwood, age 18, for receiving the Town's Volunteer of the Year Award, placing second in a Royal Canadian Legion poetry contest, and receiving a 2024 Kin Canada bursary.
Edward MacDonald (Eddie Mac) - Softball Organizer
L. O'Driscoll
Thanked Eddie Mac of Bay Bulls for his work rejuvenating softball in the Bay Bulls and Bauline area over 20 years, building the Southern Shore Crush Softball organization to hundreds of participants.
Carl Parsons - 75th Anniversary Medal of Confederation
J. McKenna
Presented Carl Parsons of Dover with the 75th Anniversary Medal of Confederation for his lifetime of community service, including work with the Alzheimer Society and as mayor of Dover.
Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove Development Association
J. Wall
Recognized the volunteer Development Association, incorporated in 2007, for their economic, cultural, social, recreational and environmental projects that enhance community quality of life.
Janaya Pittman - Schulich Leader Scholarship
E. Loveless
Congratulated Janaya Pittman of Harbour Breton, a first-year Memorial University engineering student, for receiving a $120,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship, one of 100 awarded annually across Canada.
Dave McHugh - Musician and Community Leader
G. Byrne
Mourned the passing of Dave McHugh of Corner Brook on November 8, remembering him as a musician who travelled the world but was devoted to his hometown, his causes, and his family.
Pat White - Aviation Pioneer
J. Haggie
Marked the passing of Pat White, who built a small flight school into one of Canada's premier operations and turned Exploits Valley Air Services into a top-performing regional airline, while remaining a staunch advocate for rural Newfoundland.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial Statement - Elite Navigator Rescue
A. Furey
The Premier recognized the safe return of the fishing vessel Elite Navigator and its crew of seven after going missing 300 kilometres northeast of Gander in July, thanking the fishing community, Coast Guard, Canadian Armed Forces, and owner Glenn Mouland for the successful rescue. Opposition members J. McKenna and J. Dinn joined in celebrating the crew's courage and thanking all involved.
Ministerial Statement - WorkplaceNL Safety Leadership Awards
L. Dempster
The Minister Responsible for WorkplaceNL announced the 2024 Safety Leadership Award recipients: worker Kiel Williams (Newfoundland Power powerline technician) and employer RothLochston BEL Ltd., both recognized for championing health and safety. Opposition members L. Evans and J. Brown congratulated the recipients and called for more workplace safety inspectors and transparency.
Ministerial Statement - Municipal Associations Fall Events
J. Haggie
The Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs congratulated the Professional Municipal Administrators and Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador on successful fall events, and presented Long Service Awards to municipal leaders serving 12 to 62 years, including 92-year-old Mayor John Hamlyn of Crow Head. Opposition members C. Tibbs and J. Brown congratulated recipients but called for reducing red tape and providing municipalities more resources.
Question Period
New hospital land deal and approval process
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by F. Hutton
The minister confirmed the vendor (H3) reached out to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure after seeing a news report that the Grace Hospital site was too small. The minister stated no tendering was required for land acquisition and that a willing vendor negates the need for expropriation, though the final purchase and sale agreement is not yet complete.
Appraised value and cost of hospital land
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by F. Hutton
The minister noted that nearby land has an asking price of $485,000 per acre and that the site is adjacent to 130 acres of Crown land. He defended the $23 million purchase, stating the vendor was willing to sell and no expropriation was necessary.
Site preparation costs for new hospital
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by F. Hutton
The minister said the government is currently working through cost estimates for ground preparation, road connections, and water/sewer infrastructure, emphasizing the urgent need to replace aging hospital infrastructure serving a growing population.
Health authority staff renting houses to travel nursing agencies
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by J. Hogan
The minister confirmed that inappropriate leases by management staff were identified and terminated in August 2024 following an investigation. The Auditor General and appropriate authorities were notified, and the leases violated the Conflict of Interest Act, though no criminal charges were laid.
Preference for travel agency nurses over local nurses
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by J. Hogan
The minister stated that any preference for agency nurses is unacceptable and is being investigated. He emphasized that the health authority is working to decrease reliance on agency nursing, with vacancies declining and an RFP issued to ensure cost-effective agency use.
Tabling of Auditor General letter on housing leases
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by J. Hogan
The minister agreed to table the letter.
Delay in pay equity regulations
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by L. Dempster / P. Parsons / S. Coady
Ministers stated the core public service is now pay equity compliant. The delay in broader regulations is attributed to the need for further consultation with employers and labour groups due to divergent views. The government is learning from BC's implementation and committed to getting it right rather than rushing.
Specific date for pay equity regulations
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by S. Coady
No specific date was provided. The minister reiterated that the public service is compliant and that colleagues are working diligently on regulations for the private sector.
Access to family doctors in Clarenville for Bonavista residents
Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by J. Hogan
The minister noted that those on Patient Connect have access to primary care through Teladoc and that the government is working to reduce Patient Connect wait-list numbers, with good news expected soon.
Additional RCMP officers for Grand Falls-Windsor
Asked by P. Forsey · Answered by B. Davis
The minister stated that public safety is a priority, citing $20 million announced recently and $40 million over three years for RNC and RCMP. He emphasized that operational decisions are made by the RCMP and RNC, and refused to prioritize one community over another for political reasons.
Removal of HST from home heating for all residents
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by S. Coady
The minister defended the targeted $500 rebate for those in need, arguing that a blanket HST removal would benefit the wealthy and contradict the NDP's own calls for income-tested supports.
Rent control and no-fault eviction legislation
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister acknowledged the importance of the issue and stated that discussions are ongoing within the department, with solutions to be brought forward at the appropriate time.
Seniors on Newfoundland and Labrador Housing wait-list
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Abbott
The minister clarified that the wait-list has not grown; more seniors are applying due to affordability issues, though they currently have housing. The government is addressing this through rent supplements, home repair programs, and other measures focused on seniors.
Unsafe conditions on Route 450 to Bay of Islands
Asked by E. Joyce · Answered by A. Furey / F. Hutton
The Premier acknowledged the safety issues observed during a joint drive and committed to follow up. The minister stated that road priorities are based on traffic volume and speed, and committed to reviewing Route 450 in the upcoming year.
Orders of the Day
Bill 95 (An Act to Amend the Public Safety Act) - First Reading
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 95 and moved first reading. The bill was read a first time and ordered for second reading tomorrow.
Bill 96 (An Act to Repeal the Financial Services Appeal Board Act) - First Reading
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 96 to repeal the Financial Services Appeal Board Act and amend various related acts. The bill was read a first time and ordered for second reading tomorrow.
Bill 83 (An Act to Amend the Medical Act, 2011 No. 2) - Second Reading
J. Hogan
The Minister of Health presented amendments to regulate physician assistants under the Medical Act, requiring them to be registered and licensed with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The bill also changes the NLMA membership process to make physicians automatic members, adjusts council composition to include resident physicians and regional representation, and makes various improvements to complaints, peer assessment, and quality assurance processes. Opposition members (B. Petten, J. Dinn, P. Lane) supported the bill with some noting it was a missed opportunity not to similarly enable nurse practitioners to practice privately. The bill passed second reading and was ordered to Committee tomorrow.
Bills 84, 88, 89, and 91 - Third Reading
J. Hogan
The Government House Leader moved third reading for Bill 84 (Registered Nurses Act), Bill 88 (Municipal Financing Corporation Act repeal), Bill 89 (Revenue Administration Act amendments), and Bill 91 (Family Relief Act amendments). All four bills passed third reading without debate.
Bill 92 (An Act to Amend the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, 2008) - Second Reading and Committee
E. Loveless
The Minister of Digital Government and Service NL presented amendments giving PEGNL's board bylaw-making authority to establish practice standards, expanding the definition of conduct deserving sanction, and strengthening legal protections for the board and its members. Opposition members (L. O'Driscoll, J. Brown, P. Lane) supported the changes as reducing red tape and aligning with other provinces. The bill passed second reading, went immediately to Committee of the Whole where it passed without amendment after brief questions about oversight and foreign credential recognition, and was ordered for third reading tomorrow.
Private Members' Business
PMR - Removing Provincial HST from Home Heating
Multiple
J. Brown (NDP) moved a resolution to remove the provincial portion of HST from home heating products including electricity, arguing inflation has forced people to choose between necessities and that heating is essential in Newfoundland and Labrador's extreme climate. Minister of Finance S. Coady opposed the motion, saying it would give tax breaks to the wealthy rather than targeting those most in need, that the HST is federal-provincial harmonized tax that can only be changed federally, and that government already provides $500 million in targeted cost-of-living supports including a $500 home heating supplement for those using oil. P. Lane agreed with the Finance Minister that targeted programs are better than across-the-board tax cuts. S. Stoodley highlighted federal Oil to Heat Pump programs offering up to $22,000 for low-income households to switch to electric heat. J. Dinn argued the measure would disproportionately help those on fixed incomes and minimum wage, that it was done before in 2011, and that it destigmatizes poverty, criticizing government for lacking a long-term plan to address poverty.
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.