Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 20 May 2025
Question Period focused heavily on health care system challenges, including lengthy wait times for autism diagnosis and therapy (2½ years), continued reliance on private agency nurses despite lack of tracking, and emergency dispatch failures in rural areas. Other issues included waste facility access card barriers, drug enforcement and overdose prevention, ferry capacity concerns for Fogo Island, school construction delays in Paradise, and the impact of large financial landlords purchasing apartment buildings on rental affordability. The House devoted its non-Question Period business primarily to second and third reading of Bill 99, An Act to Amend The United Church of Canada Act, which updates governance terminology and structure for the United Church in Newfoundland and Labrador. Members also heard statements recognizing community volunteers, youth achievements, and a retiring MHA, along with a ministerial statement on the Newfoundland and Labrador Disability Benefit. Several petitions were presented on rural infrastructure and public safety concerns.
Members' Statements
Retirement of MHA for Lake Melville
P. Trimper
The Member for Lake Melville announced his retirement from politics, thanking House staff, civil servants, colleagues, and his late wife Caroline Hong for their support over 10 years of service.
Recognition of Gerald Coombs, community volunteer
P. Lane
The Member for Mount Pearl - Southlands recognized Gerald Coombs, a 53-year Lions Club member who received a King Charles III Coronation Medal for extensive volunteerism including collecting 40,000 pairs of eyeglasses for those in need.
Mount Pearl Focus on Youth Awards
L. Stoyles
The Member for Mount Pearl North congratulated recipients of the 2025 Focus on Youth Awards, including Youth of the Year, Athlete of the Year, and various arts and service award winners.
Islanders Riding Club fundraising efforts
J. Dwyer
The Member for Placentia West - Bellevue recognized the Islanders Riding Club for their charitable work, including donating over $8,000 in toys and $10,000 in clothing and essentials to local charities.
St. Teresa's Chorus cultural exchange with Ireland
J. Dinn
The Member for St. John's Centre highlighted St. Teresa's Chorus's invitation to perform with a choir in Waterford City, Ireland, strengthening cultural ties through music and shared heritage.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial statement on Newfoundland and Labrador Disability Benefit
J. Korab
The Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities announced information sessions on the Disability Benefit, which provides up to $400 monthly and $1,200 annually to RDSPs for low-income persons with disabilities.
Opposition response to disability benefit statement
Multiple
The Member for Harbour Main and the Leader of the Third Party acknowledged the benefit as positive but raised concerns about accessibility barriers, restrictive eligibility tied to the federal Disability Tax Credit, and cumbersome application processes.
Notice of private Member's resolution on advocate for persons with disabilities
H. Conway Ottenheimer
The Member for Harbour Main gave notice of a resolution calling for a dedicated stand-alone advocate for persons with disabilities, separate from the Seniors' Advocate, to be debated on Private Members' Day.
Petition on Wi-Fi and cell service in Placentia West - Bellevue
J. Dwyer
The Member petitioned for improved Wi-Fi and cell service in the district, citing impacts on emergency services, tourism, business, medical services, and personal use, with many areas having no connectivity.
Petition on crime and policing in Stoneville
J. McKenna
The Member for Fogo Island - Cape Freels petitioned for increased police presence and reinstatement of closed RCMP detachments due to escalating crime and vandalism, with residents living in fear.
Petition on brush cutting on Route 10
L. O'Driscoll
The Member for Ferryland petitioned for immediate brush cutting on Route 10 of the Southern Shore Highway, citing safety hazards and increased risk of moose-vehicle collisions.
Petition on road conditions to Tickle Cove
C. Pardy
The Member for Bonavista petitioned for repairs to the deplorable road to Tickle Cove, Open Hall, and Red Cliff, noting destructive potholes damaging vehicles and affecting schoolchildren.
Question Period
Autism diagnosis and early intervention wait times
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by K. Howell
The minister acknowledged 2½-year waits are unacceptable and stated supports can be provided before formal diagnosis through early childhood centres and schools. She announced a forthcoming Child and Youth Community Health Services Model involving Health, Education, and Families departments to provide wraparound supports at multiple access points.
Tracking and accountability for private agency nurse spending
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by K. Howell
The minister stated tracking has not stopped but acknowledged the March figure was unavailable due to other priorities. She noted nursing vacancies decreased from 700 to under 300, contracts have been standardized, and health transformation tables monitor travel nursing regularly. She committed to providing updated figures but defended continued use where necessary to avoid service closures.
911 dispatch failures in rural areas due to postal code reliance
Asked by L. Parrott · Answered by J. Haggie
The minister acknowledged postal codes and civic addresses do not work in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. He stated the department is working with 911 and Municipal Affairs on a solution as part of the next-generation 911 system upgrade, and will implement it as soon as available.
Eastern Regional Service Board waste facility access card system barriers
Asked by L. O'Driscoll · Answered by S. Reid / S. Stoodley
The Environment Minister took the question under advisement. The Minister of Government Modernization expressed interest in working with the Member to improve the system, acknowledging it sounds like an important issue requiring attention.
Drug overdose prevention strategy and rural RCMP resources
Asked by H. Conway Ottenheimer · Answered by J. Haggie
The minister highlighted existing measures including naloxone kits and increased opioid treatment programs. He stated 19 additional police officers are being added and pointed to the success of the RNC-RCMP task force (evidenced by record drug seizures). He emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach combining enforcement, education, and harm reduction.
Fogo Island and Change Islands ferry service capacity and vessel assignments
Asked by J. McKenna · Answered by E. Loveless
The minister acknowledged receiving outreach from the mayor and Ferry Users Committee and committed to meeting with them. He stated final decisions on vessel assignments have not been made but will come within the next week, recognizing the importance of fish product transportation and tourism.
Kenmount Terrace school construction timeline and Larkhall Academy safety
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by S. Stoodley / E. Loveless / B. Davis
Ministers stated an announcement is imminent and ground will move very soon for the new Kenmount Terrace school. Regarding Larkhall Academy air quality concerns, the Minister of Government Modernization was unaware of current issues but committed to investigating, noting most previously identified problems had been resolved. No specific opening date was confirmed for either the Kenmount Terrace or Paradise high school projects.
Large financial landlords purchasing apartment buildings and rent control
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Abbott / S. Stoodley
The Housing Minister stated government has no role in private market property purchases and is focused on providing affordable housing for low-income families and seniors through direct construction and rental assistance. The Minister of Government Modernization rejected rent control, stating provinces with rent stabilization measures see higher rental increases than Newfoundland and Labrador, and the policy does not work to keep rates stable based on national data.
Orders of the Day
Second reading of Bill 99, An Act to Amend The United Church of Canada Act
Multiple
The Minister of Justice and Public Safety introduced Bill 99 to modernize governance terminology for the United Church, replacing 'presbyteries' with 'regional councils.' Multiple members spoke in support, sharing personal connections to the United Church and its community contributions. The bill passed second reading unanimously.
Committee of the Whole consideration of Bill 99
Multiple
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 99. The Member for Baie Verte - Green Bay raised observations about church properties on Crown land and genealogical tourism opportunities at abandoned graveyards. The bill was carried without amendment.
Report and third reading scheduling of Bill 99
P. Trimper
The Chair of Committee of the Whole reported Bill 99 carried without amendment. The bill was ordered for third reading on the following day.
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.