Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Wednesday 4 December 2024
Question Period focused heavily on public safety and health care concerns. The Opposition pressed the government on youth violence, school safety, and policing resources following a recent assault in Mount Pearl and a town hall attended by over 200 residents. Additional questions addressed staffing cuts at Carbonear General Hospital, legal aid delays, infrastructure safety, and housing affordability. The House passed Bill 101 (Labour Standards Act amendments on sick notes) at third reading and debated Bill 104 (Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act amendments) at second reading and in Committee of the Whole. Bill 104 reinstates the right to strike and lockout for fish harvesters and processors while preserving an option for binding arbitration by mutual agreement. The bill will not receive Royal Assent until both the FFAW and the Association of Seafood Producers confirm agreement with their members. Members' Statements recognized community leaders and volunteers.
Members' Statements
Recognition of Marjorie Flowers, Hopedale AngajukKâk
L. Evans
L. Evans recognized Marjorie Flowers of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, for her service as a Moravian lay minister, residential school survivor and educator, health worker, and three-time elected AngajukKâk and member of the Nunatsiavut House of Assembly.
Recognition of Little Free Pantry Initiative
J. Korab
J. Korab recognized the Little Free Pantry initiative in Shea Heights and Southside Road, which provides accessible, no-barrier food and essential items to individuals and families in need through community support.
Question Period
Mount Pearl assault and police response times
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by A. Furey
The Premier expressed sympathy for the victim's family and outlined investments in public safety, including new RNC positions, correctional officers, Crown attorneys, and a joint task force, totaling $44 million in recent weeks.
School safety and Safe and Caring Schools policy
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by K. Howell
The Minister of Education stated the policy is under review and noted a multi-departmental coalition approach. She highlighted teaching and learning assistants being piloted and doubled, and improved guidance counsellor ratios (1:333 from 1:500).
Youth Criminal Justice Act and repeat offenders
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by B. Davis
The Minister of Justice defended the government's $43 million investment across the justice continuum and stated the issue is being addressed nationally through federal-provincial-territorial discussions.
Carbonear General Hospital surgeon concerns
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by J. Hogan
The Minister of Health clarified that a letter from surgeons arrived yesterday and the department reached out today to arrange a meeting. The Premier stated the CEO had met with doctors in Carbonear who expressed concerns, though the Opposition disputed this timeline.
LPN layoffs at Carbonear General Hospital
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by J. Hogan
The minister stated he was unaware of any positions being eliminated and emphasized that government policy is to increase health care funding year over year, not cut positions. He committed to investigating the claims.
Travel nurses versus local hiring
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by J. Hogan
The minister confirmed the plan to reduce agency nurses to pre-pandemic levels and stated reliance on travel nurses has decreased since the 2023 peak, with continued reductions planned.
Legal aid access for family law case
Asked by C. Pardy · Answered by B. Davis
The minister acknowledged the situation is unacceptable and confirmed he is aware of the case but declined to discuss details of a matter before the courts, offering to work with the Member privately on solutions.
Highway safety in Grand Falls-Windsor
Asked by C. Tibbs · Answered by F. Hutton
The Minister of Transportation confirmed the department will send experts to examine the divided highway where wrong-way driving incidents have occurred, following up on earlier communications with the Member.
Policing Transformation Working Group report
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by B. Davis
The minister stated there is no formal report beyond the Happy Valley-Goose Bay document, explaining the group works nimbly and makes recommendations in real-time, pointing to $43 million in recent investments as evidence of their work.
Northern Labrador road prefeasibility study
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by F. Hutton
The minister confirmed the study is complete and has been sent to three Indigenous groups in Labrador for review; it will be released publicly once their feedback is received.
Gas tax and carbon tax
Asked by L. Paddock · Answered by S. Coady
The Minister of Finance noted the government has returned $750 million to residents through affordability measures including an eight-cent per litre gas tax reduction, but stated decisions on permanent tax cuts are budgetary matters for spring 2025. She emphasized the Premier's opposition to federal carbon tax increases.
Trepassey breakwater repairs
Asked by L. O'Driscoll · Answered by F. Hutton
The minister confirmed a commitment to examine a permanent solution for the breakwater but noted it is not an easy fix and will take time to ensure safety.
Accessibility Act standards and regulations
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister did not confirm whether accessibility standards and regulations have been written, instead focusing on the need for completed work before inspections and directing tenants to Residential Tenancies for complaints.
Rent controls and vacancy controls
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister rejected rent controls, arguing they would discourage investment in housing. He stated government must balance the interests of renters, landlords, and investors to encourage housing development.
Additional RNC patrol units for Northeast Avalon
Asked by P. Lane · Answered by B. Davis
The minister cited 30 new RNC officers committed over three years and 19 additional officers to be deployed based on Policing Transformation Working Group recommendations and crime trends in the Northeast Avalon, though did not explicitly commit to net gains or confirm Budget 2025-2026 allocations.
Youth Criminal Justice Act review
Asked by P. Lane · Answered by B. Davis
The minister confirmed daily discussions with provincial counterparts and federal-provincial-territorial meetings addressing youth and adult criminal justice issues, emphasizing a continuum approach with investments across police, Crown attorneys, sheriffs, corrections, and the judiciary.
Orders of the Day
Bill 101 (Labour Standards Act No. 2) — Third Reading
Multiple
J. Brown reiterated concerns that the bill does not go far enough to prevent employees from being required to obtain sick notes. L. Dempster clarified that the amendment removes the sick note requirement for seven days of unpaid sick leave already mandated by law. The bill passed third reading.
Bill 104 (Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act No. 2) — Second Reading Debate
Multiple
L. Dempster introduced amendments reinstating the right to strike and lockout for fish harvesters and processors, while allowing parties to mutually agree to binding arbitration via the Fish Price Setting Panel. Members from all parties spoke extensively on the importance of the fishery to the provincial economy, the need for timely crab seasons, concerns about controlling agreements, processing capacity, foreign workers, seal predation, and the need for joint federal-provincial fishery management. C. Pardy, S. Gambin-Walsh, J. McKenna, J. Brown, P. Lane, G. Byrne, L. Paddock, L. O'Driscoll, T. Wakeham, and J. Dwyer all contributed. The bill passed second reading.
Bill 104 — Committee of the Whole (Progress Reported)
Multiple
In Committee, C. Pardy asked about the composition and expertise of the conciliation board and sought clarification on the timing of Royal Assent. L. Dempster confirmed that conciliation board members will be selected by both parties and have fishery expertise, and that the bill will not receive Royal Assent until both the FFAW and the Association of Seafood Producers have consulted their members and confirmed agreement. The Committee rose and reported progress.
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.