Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Thursday 22 May 2025
Question Period focused heavily on health care system pressures, particularly the doubling of patients awaiting alternate levels of care (from 146 to 327), seniors' treatment in personal care homes, and individual cases of inadequate home care and emergency access. Other themes included unfulfilled infrastructure commitments (HMP replacement, Cape St. George flood relief), the mackerel fishery moratorium, housing shortages in Labrador West, and the absence of legislation for a disability advocate despite unanimous House support.
Question Period
Alternate levels of care (ALC) and seniors in hospital beds
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by J. Hogan / K. Howell
The Premier and Minister acknowledged the ALC issue, citing pilot projects and at-home policies. The Minister noted it is a systemic problem affecting emergency admissions and surgeries, and that they are working on solutions including operational standards for personal care homes.
Independent advocate for persons with disabilities
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by J. Hogan
The Premier stated he has heard the disability community does not want the Seniors' Advocate role expanded, and prefers to develop a policy that reflects what people with disabilities actually want before implementing legislation.
Her Majesty's Penitentiary replacement
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by E. Loveless
The Minister acknowledged the project is behind the 2021 schedule, said planning is ongoing, and promised more definitive answers 'in the very near future' without committing to a timeline.
Mackerel fishery moratorium
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by L. Dempster
The Minister confirmed the province wrote to the federal Department of Fisheries on May 7 requesting reopening of the commercial mackerel fishery with a 2,000-ton TAC, and has requested a meeting with the new federal minister.
Cape St. George flood relief
Asked by T. Wakeham · Answered by J. Haggie
The Minister stated a committee is reviewing claims and, as far as he is aware, there are currently no outstanding claims.
24-hour home care for Barry Pye (paralyzed individual)
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by K. Howell
The Minister declined to discuss the specific case publicly, citing privacy, but said case managers assess individual needs and clients can request reassessment if services are inadequate.
Patient Connect and Courtney Davis case
Asked by B. Petten · Answered by K. Howell / J. Hogan
The Minister and Premier refused to discuss the individual case on the floor, citing confidentiality, but said NLHS investigates incidents and reviews policies. The Premier emphasized they respond to all inquiries privately.
Kamutik W ferry return to Northern Labrador
Asked by L. Evans · Answered by E. Loveless
The Minister would not commit to the June 9 date requested, saying a decision on vessel deployment will be made 'over the next couple of days' in consultation with LMI.
Emergency shelter budget sufficiency
Asked by J. Wall · Answered by J. Abbott
The Minister did not have the specific budget figure but committed that if the $8.2 million budgeted is insufficient, additional funds will be allocated to meet community needs.
Shoulder grading on Route 20 and 21
Asked by J. Wall · Answered by E. Loveless
The Minister said he will take the issue back to the ADM responsible and do his best to address it.
Compensation for volunteer fire departments responding to 911 medical calls
Asked by J. Dwyer · Answered by J. Haggie
The Minister confirmed that volunteer fire departments can now get medical supplies replaced through NLHS, and a medical first responder education program is under development.
Family doctor or nurse practitioner clinic in Arnold's Cove
Asked by J. Dwyer · Answered by K. Howell
The Minister said an RFP for clinical space has been issued and a tender will be awarded. In the meantime, residents are connected to a Family Care Team in Clarenville and can access Teladoc virtual care.
Uniformed Services Pension Plan funding
Asked by L. Paddock · Answered by S. Coady
The Deputy Premier stated the government is meeting regularly with union groups to reform the pension plan, as they have done with other plans that are now fully funded.
PowerSchool cyberattack ransom payment
Asked by P. Dinn · Answered by B. Davis
The Minister did not confirm whether a ransom was paid, but noted the province was fortunate to avoid major problems, an arrest has been made, and affected individuals can access two years of complimentary protective services.
Personal care home evictions and emergency room dumping
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by K. Howell
The Minister acknowledged the Auditor General's findings and said the department is developing operational standards for personal care homes through stakeholder consultation, which will include measures to prevent inappropriate evictions and require notice periods for service changes.
Amending Residential Tenancies Act to protect seniors in personal care homes
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by K. Howell
The Minister reiterated that operational standards are being developed to secure service agreements and provide rent control measures in personal care homes, addressing the cyclical problem of ALC patients blocking acute-care beds.
Housing construction in Labrador West (40-unit seniors building)
Asked by J. Brown · Answered by J. Abbott
The Minister said design work is underway on the 40-unit apartment building, they are awaiting a CMHC funding response, and are committed to delivering the project. He also committed to working with municipalities on infrastructure to enable private-sector development.
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.