Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Wednesday 16 April 2025
The sitting opened with a point of order and withdrawal of a personal comment made during the previous day's Question Period, followed by extended budget debate on the Opposition's non-confidence amendment covering the economy, health care, cost of living, crime, roads and rural services. In the afternoon Question Period, the Opposition pressed the government on rising drug deaths and crime, seniors' care and the Seniors' Advocate report, proposed changes to women's and children's health services at the Janeway, a disability advocate, personal care homes, and the grounded container ship at Cedar Cove. The government defended its record while committing to review recommendations and press federal officials on the shipwreck. The sitting featured several notices of motion from the Government House Leader regarding extended sitting hours and a resolution to reappoint Bradley Moss as Citizens' Representative for six years. Members from all sides offered tributes to Premier Andrew Furey, who is returning to his surgical career. The bulk of the day was devoted to continued budget debate on the amendment, with members raising issues including provincial debt, forestry secondary processing, road conditions, seniors' home care, a disability advocate, an unremediated diesel spill in Swift Current, tourism in rural districts, and community investment in Labrador West.
Routine Proceedings
Notices of motion on extended sitting hours
L. Dempster
The Government House Leader gave notice of several motions under Standing Orders 9 and 11(1) that the House not adjourn at its usual times on May 12, 13, 14 and 15, and that the House sit until midnight on Wednesday, May 14, to conduct government business.
Resolution to reappoint Citizens' Representative
L. Dempster
The Government House Leader gave notice of a resolution to reappoint Bradley Moss as the Citizens' Representative for a term of six years, his previous appointment having expired April 30.
Answer on police officer numbers and recruitment
B. Davis
The Minister of Justice and Public Safety tabled figures in response to an earlier question, reporting 424 RNC officers and 112 civilian members, 456 RCMP officers and 16 First Nations officers, and details on RCMP and RNC recruitment and cadet classes.
Question Period
Personal comment made during previous Question Period (point of order)
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by S. Coady
The Deputy Premier acknowledged that emotions came out during intense debate, said it was never her intent to hurt anyone, and withdrew the comment while agreeing personalities should be kept out of the House.
Crime, gun violence and record drug-related deaths
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by The Premier
The Premier shared concern for drug-death victims and pointed to record investments in justice and public safety, including a new RCMP-RNC Joint Task Force targeting drugs and illegal firearms, defending the government's actions despite the earlier task force being disbanded in 2018.
Mobile mental health crisis response teams
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by J. Haggie
The Acting Minister of Health said Mobile Crisis Response Teams are integral but where unavailable, 911 reroutes calls to the nearest ambulance; availability depends on local law enforcement, and the Premier added the budget invested in new RNC and RCMP officers. No commitment on staffing the promised units was given.
Seniors' Advocate report and supporting seniors to age in place
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by P. Pike
The Minister said the report was only received that morning and will be reviewed, noting one recommendation (a guide of programs and services) was already launched; the Premier and Housing minister added they would take recommendations under advisement and highlighted a $1 million increase to the Home Modification Program, but made no commitment to implement all six recommendations.
Relocation of women's and children's health services to the Janeway and $3 million budget allocation
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by The Premier
The Premier said no decision has been made and the process is at an analysis and consultation phase, adding that if the money is not used it will revert to the Treasury; the Acting Health Minister said clinical priorities determine appointments and did not directly answer on the eye clinic or autism assessment wait times.
Creating an advocate for persons with disabilities
Asked by Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by L. Dempster
Ministers declined to give a yes or no on legislating an advocate before the House closes, saying the Fowler review recommendation is being reviewed, while pointing to existing supports including a $26-million investment, a new Disability Benefit of up to $400/month starting July 2025 and the Registered Disability Savings Program.
Acting chair of the Public Service Commission remaining in an acting role since 2022
Asked by L. Paddock · Answered by S. Coady
The Minister of Finance said acting assignments occur within government and described the individual's long service and qualifications, without directly confirming the status of the advertised position or explaining the delay.
Home care and personal care homes for seniors in Labrador West
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by J. Haggie
The Acting Health Minister acknowledged challenges attracting private personal care home operators to Lab West and said the government is exploring options using public funds and non-profits; on the AG report on personal care homes, he said standards were updated and 17 additional FTEs added for oversight, but made no commitment to bring home care into the public system.
Consultation on changes to Janeway pediatric services
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Haggie
The Acting Health Minister rejected the claim that the government put the cart before the horse, saying NLHS has begun a consultation process, met with unions, and that Dr. Parfrey is managing the process, which he said is working.
Grounded container ship at Cedar Cove and risk of oil spill
Asked by E. Joyce · Answered by The Premier
The Premier commended the rescue efforts and confirmed the government has written to the Canadian Coast Guard and federal government urging urgent action to remove the 1.3 million litres of heavy oil and protect the fishing grounds, committing to continue pressing federal officials.
Orders of the Day
Budget debate (amendment) - Lions Club, war memorial, and provincial debt
C. Pardy
The Member for Bonavista praised the Lions Club's charitable work including its eyeglass program, commended a war memorial initiative in George's Brook-Milton, and criticized the government's growing debt by contrasting its 2016 budget rhetoric with current net debt of $19.4 billion and $1.2 billion in debt servicing, and questioned $75,000 spent on a suffrage anniversary.
Budget debate - forestry, roads, and seniors' home care
P. Forsey
The Member for Exploits called for secondary forestry processing in Central Newfoundland (forest areas 10, 11, 12), complained about lack of permits and paving on Route 350 compared to Liberal districts, and raised the Seniors' Advocate report on the cost barriers preventing seniors from aging at home and the shortage of home care workers.
Budget debate - disability advocate and Swift Current diesel spill
J. Dwyer
The Member for Placentia West - Bellevue argued residents are not better off than 10 years ago, pressed for a dedicated disability advocacy office serving 30 per cent of the population, and criticized the government for halting remediation of a 700-litre diesel spill in Swift Current after learning the trucking company had no insurance, calling it hypocritical given Earth Day statements.
Budget debate - provincial debt, student assistant pay, and home care
P. Lane
The Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands urged that any Upper Churchill MOU revenue be used to pay down the province's debt, raised chronic payroll problems for student assistants using an antiquated system, and highlighted the unfair pay discrepancy between home care agency workers and self-managed home care workers who received no raise.
Budget debate - rural health care, seniors, and tourism
J. McKenna
The Member for Fogo Island - Cape Freels called the budget urban rather than rural, listed numerous health care service diversions in Central Newfoundland, advocated for increased home care funding for seniors, and gave an extensive overview of tourism attractions in his district to argue for better transportation and road infrastructure investment.
Budget debate - defence of budget and departmental investments
A. Parsons
The Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology praised the Minister of Finance for balancing competing priorities, defended the 2016 fiscal situation inherited from the previous government, and highlighted budget investments including $90 million/$30 million offshore exploration incentives, natural gas assessment, critical minerals, Port aux Basques passing lanes, and a new CT scanner.
Budget debate - Labrador West community investment
J. Brown
The Member for Labrador West stressed the region's 71 years of mining success depends on community support, and expressed disappointment that the budget provided no real investment for seniors, home care, personal care homes, housing, or health care staffing needed to keep the community viable rather than becoming a fly-in mining camp. He adjourned debate, retaining his remaining time.
Other business
Tributes to Premier Andrew Furey
Multiple
Members from all parties paid tribute to Premier Andrew Furey ahead of his departure to return to surgery, acknowledging his handling of deficits, the $5.2 billion federal deal, floods, fires, the Churchill Falls evacuation, Reconciliation efforts, the repatriation of the Unknown Soldier, and his accessibility to opposition members.
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.