Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 3 March 2026
Question Period was dominated by the impending Bay du Nord agreement with Equinor, expected to be announced imminently. The Official Opposition repeatedly pressed the Premier and Minister of Energy on whether the government would honour its election promise that all topside work be done in Newfoundland and Labrador, and demanded a legislative debate or independent review of the deal, while ministers deflected and promised the 'best benefits agreement' ever without confirming specifics. Health care also featured prominently, with Liberal members challenging the cancellation of the new provincial hospital and questioning the cost figures cited, while the Third Party and NDP raised public service jobs, climate action, child care, and school safety. The first sitting of the Fifty-First General Assembly featured welcomes to guests, a moment of reflection on veterans' service, and Members' statements honouring firefighters, veterans and community volunteers. Ministerial statements paid tribute to the late Honourable Len Simms and recognized Tourism Excellence Award recipients. Routine proceedings included the adoption of the Address in Reply committee report, tabling of the Commissioner for Legislative Standards report, and several petitions, while Orders of the Day saw first readings of seven bills and maiden Address in Reply speeches from six new and returning Members.
Members' Statements
Recognition of Ramea Volunteer Fire Department
M. King
The Member for Burgeo - La Poile recognized the Ramea Volunteer Fire Department for saving two lives within a month, responding to a cardiac arrest and a house fire, and thanked all firefighters across the province.
Tribute to veterans' advocate David Flannigan
P. Pike
The Member for Burin - Grand Bank honoured David Flannigan of Lawn, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran and long-serving Royal Canadian Legion leader who became Dominion President in 2016 and received numerous accolades for his work on behalf of veterans.
Quilts of Comfort group and Conception Bay North wildfires
R. Balsom
The Member for Carbonear - Trinity - Bay de Verde recognized the Quilts of Comfort group from Bay de Verde for partnering with the Salvation Army to prepare over 400 quilts for families who lost homes in the wildfires.
NunatuKavut Community Council 40th anniversary
L. Dempster
The Member for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair congratulated the NunatuKavut Community Council on its 40th anniversary, celebrating four decades of Indigenous advocacy, leadership and resilience.
Tribute to former mayor Carol McDonald
F. Hutton
The Member for Conception Bay East - Bell Island paid tribute to Carol McDonald, who retired at 81 after serving as mayor of Portugal Cove-St. Philip's and made history in 1978 as the first woman elected mayor of Portugal Cove.
Routine Proceedings
Statement honouring the late Honourable Len Simms
Premier Wakeham
The Premier honoured the life and legacy of the late Honourable Len Simms, a decades-long parliamentarian who served as MHA, Speaker, Cabinet minister, Leader of the Official Opposition and CEO of NL Housing Corporation; the Leaders of the Official Opposition and Third Party joined in offering condolences.
Statement on Tourism Excellence Awards
A. Barbour
The Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation congratulated the recipients of this year's Tourism Excellence Awards; the Members for Gander and St. John's East - Quidi Vidi responded, with the latter calling for a funded plan to support working artists.
Report of Select Committee on Address in Reply
R. Balsom
The Member for Carbonear - Trinity - Bay de Verde presented the report of the Select Committee drafting the reply to the Speech from the Throne, which was received and adopted on motion.
Tabling of Commissioner for Legislative Standards annual report
The Speaker
The Speaker tabled the annual report of the Commissioner for Legislative Standards for January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, as required under the House of Assembly Act.
Petition on Orcan Drive wave wall in Placentia
S. Gambin-Walsh
The Member for Placentia - St. Mary's presented a petition calling for funding to rebuild the deteriorating Orcan Drive wave wall; the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure responded that a study is underway and government would not leave the town behind.
Petition for more provincial wildfire-fighting resources
P. Parsons
The Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave presented a petition urging increased wildfire funding, training, hiring of additional wildland firefighters and compensation for volunteers; the Minister of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands responded citing Blue Book commitments and the return of the fifth water bomber.
Petition to bring back the Residential Energy Rebate
S. O'Leary
The Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi presented a petition urging an HST rebate on home heating; the Minister of Finance responded that affordability measures, including reducing taxes and adjusting the Child Benefit, would be addressed in the budget.
Petition to relocate a school bus stop in Virginia Waters
B. Davis
The Member for Virginia Waters - Pleasantville presented a petition to relocate a school bus stop to 17 Oakridge Drive for safety and accessibility; the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure committed to changing the stop if it is justified as unsafe.
Petition on Labrador South Health Centre services
L. Dempster
The Member for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair presented a petition urging retention of health services and recruitment of a doctor at the Forteau health centre, noting lost lab and X-ray techs and a missing INR machine; the Minister of Health committed to working with the Member on the concerns.
Petition for anti-temporary replacement worker legislation
J. Dinn
The Leader of the Third Party presented a petition urging legislation banning the use of temporary replacement workers during strikes or lockouts, matching federal proposals for federally regulated sectors.
Question Period
Bay du Nord topside work election promise
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier and Government House Leader repeatedly refused to explicitly confirm the promise that all topside work be built in the province, instead saying they stand by NL workers and that a forthcoming contract would be better than past deals and put Newfoundlanders first.
Local benefits legislation and Equinor benefits agreement
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by L. Parrott
The Minister of Energy would not detail the promised local benefits legislation, citing confidentiality around ongoing negotiations, and pledged the best benefits agreement the province has ever seen with the bill open to debate once introduced.
Debate, independent review or referendum on the Bay du Nord deal
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by L. Parrott
The minister would not commit to a House debate, independent panel, or referendum on the agreement, repeatedly deflecting to attacks on the previous government and promising the best deal the province has ever seen once announced.
Confirmation that the deal delivers same jobs as topside construction
Asked by B. Davis · Answered by L. Parrott
The Minister of Energy declined to confirm the number or type of jobs, saying no announcement had been made and that the eventual deal would be the best oil and gas announcement, unlike past deals.
Cancellation of new provincial hospital and patient needs
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister of Health defended cancelling the proposed hospital, arguing the roughly $12-billion building would not have addressed long-term and alternate-level-of-care bed shortages, and blamed the previous Liberal government for understaffed facilities and empty announcements.
Cost estimates for the cancelled provincial hospital
Asked by J. Korab · Answered by B. Petten
The Minister of Transportation acknowledged no one knew the exact figure but said departmental figures showed $14-billion-plus, well beyond the province's roughly $11-billion budget, comparing it to a similar-sized $14.8-billion Toronto hospital.
Public service job cuts in upcoming budget
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier committed that there would be no job cuts, saying he values public servants, has met with NAPE and CUPE, and will work with them on appropriate compensation.
Climate action plan
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by C. Tibbs
The Minister of Environment said the government is working with communities and federal counterparts to develop a climate action plan adaptable for Newfoundland and Labrador, but gave no timeline, saying the House will know when it is ready.
Affordable $10-a-day child care expansion
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by P. Dinn
The Minister of Education emphasized the importance of affordable child care and said he met with federal, provincial and territorial counterparts and ECEs, and is working on a plan to ensure affordable child care continues, without a firm expansion commitment.
School safety infrastructure audit
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by B. Petten
The Minister of Transportation said staff constantly monitor schools and keep an active list of deficiencies, working to fix issues in a timely manner as they become aware of them, without confirming a completed audit.
Orders of the Day
First reading of Bill 2, An Act Respecting the Seniors' Advocate
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 2, An Act Respecting the Seniors' Advocate, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
First reading of Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
First reading of Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act No. 2
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act No. 2, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
First reading of Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Pension Benefits Act, 1997
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Pension Benefits Act, 1997, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
First reading of Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Endangered Species Act
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Endangered Species Act, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
First reading of Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Wild Life Act
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Wild Life Act, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
Address in Reply debate
Multiple
Members delivered maiden and reply speeches: A. Barbour (St. Barbe - L'Anse aux Meadows) recounted her personal journey and commitment to tourism, culture and rural NL; M. King (Burgeo - La Poile) thanked constituents and raised health care, ferry, court closure and NMCA MOU concerns; S. O'Leary (St. John's East - Quidi Vidi) emphasized social democratic values and equity; M. Goosney (Humber - Gros Morne) called for respectful decorum and public service; R. Balsom (Carbonear - Trinity - Bay de Verde) highlighted the fishery, small business and wildfire recovery; and J. Power (Labrador West) spoke on mining, travel costs, housing, health care and recreation.
Adjournment of debate and of the House
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved to adjourn debate on Address in Reply and then that the House adjourn; both motions carried, and the House adjourned until Wednesday, March 4 at 10 a.m.
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.