Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Monday 9 March 2026
Question Period was dominated by Opposition scrutiny of the Premier's decision to pay a special advisor roughly $275,000 annually from MCP (health care) funds, with the Liberals and NDP questioning its legality, appropriateness, and whether the staffer worked on non-health matters. Government ministers repeatedly defended the hire as advice to fix a health care system they blamed on 10 years of Liberal rule, deflecting to initiatives like eliminating medical transportation costs and reducing travel nurse spending. Other topics included MCP coverage for cleft lip/palate orthodontic care, food and housing insecurity, and rate mitigation and home heating affordability tied to Bay du Nord revenue. The Speaker ruled that no prima facie question of privilege existed regarding a matter raised by the Leader of the Third Party about noise and interactions in the House, but stressed the need for order and decorum. Members delivered statements honouring constituents and the House recognized Ministerial statements on the 2026 Labrador Winter Games and Social Work Month. In Orders of the Day, three bills were introduced at first reading (Bills 9, 10) and the Interim Supply bill (Bill 3) providing nearly $4 billion was debated in Committee of the Whole and passed all readings, while second reading debate on Bill 1, the Disability Advocate Act, continued with strong cross-party support.
Members' Statements
Recognition of Dr. Avrum Richler's 100th birthday
S. Stoodley
The Member for Mount Scio recognized Dr. Avrum Richler, celebrating his 100th birthday, a longtime optometrist who moved to Newfoundland in 1967, held clinics across the province and is writing his memoir.
Recognition of blood donor Morley Reid of Blaketown
S. Gambin-Walsh
The Member for Placentia - St. Mary's honoured Morley Reid, who has donated blood over 800 times, volunteered extensively with numerous organizations, and received several awards including the King Charles III Medal.
Birthday tribute to late father Dennis Dwyer
J. Dwyer
The Member for Placentia West - Bellevue paid tribute to his late father, Dennis Dwyer, recounting his life, career at the Marystown Shipyard, community volunteering and family.
60th anniversary of the Pasadena Lions Club
H. Cormier
The Member for St. George's - Humber recognized the 60th anniversary of the Pasadena Lions Club and thanked past and present members for their community service since 1966.
Recognition of Margaret Tibbo and parasport
J. Dinn
The Member for St. John's Centre recognized Margaret Tibbo, recently invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, for 40 years of dedication to parasports and inclusion.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial statement: 2026 Labrador Winter Games
L. Evans
The Minister of Labrador Affairs celebrated the opening of the 2026 Labrador Winter Games, praising the board, volunteers and organizers, with responses from the Member for Gander (as Sport critic) and the Leader of the Third Party, who called for more affordable and accessible sports especially in remote areas.
Ministerial statement: Social Work Month
J. Wall
The Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being acknowledged March as Social Work Month, highlighting social worker Debbie Lavers O'Neil, with responses from the Member for Placentia - St. Mary's and the Leader of the Third Party who called for stronger recruitment efforts and paid work terms for social work students.
Notice of private Member's motion on seniors
J. McKenna
The Member for Fogo Island - Cape Freels gave notice of a private Member's motion to be debated Wednesday supporting government initiatives to improve seniors' lives, including aging at home, affordability measures with the Seniors' Advocate, and raising and indexing the Seniors' Benefit.
Petition on self-managed home care worker wage parity
S. Gambin-Walsh
The Member for Placentia - St. Mary's presented a petition urging the government to raise the pay rate for self-managed home care workers to be on par with agency-based counterparts and maintain wage parity.
Petition on Bell Island ferry service
F. Hutton
The Member for Conception Bay East - Bell Island petitioned to replace the MV Legionnaire with the MV Veteran when the Legionnaire goes out of service; the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure responded that RFPs for a swing vessel are due end of March, that three new ferries are planned, and assured an equal or larger vessel would serve the Bell Island crossing.
Petition on rental increase limitations
J. Dinn
The Leader of the Third Party presented a petition urging legislation to limit annual rent increases and introduce rent and vacancy control to prevent predatory practices and homelessness, citing examples of seniors and others being priced out.
Petition to re-open the provincial court in Port aux Basques
M. King
The Member for Burgeo - La Poile petitioned to re-open the Port aux Basques provincial court to restore justice services for the Southwest Coast; the Minister of Justice and Public Safety responded that a working group of justice system representatives was established immediately and is making progress, with a presentation expected soon.
Question Period
Use of MCP health funds to pay Premier's political advisor
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier defended hiring an individual from the health care system to provide policy advice, refusing to admit wrongdoing and pivoting to health initiatives such as covering medical transportation and reducing travel nurse costs. He did not directly confirm whether the staffer performed non-health duties, and Ministers Parrott and Petten later deflected to Bay du Nord and the prior government's own special advisor practices.
Treasury Board approval and salary limits for the staffer contract
Asked by S. Stoodley · Answered by C. Pardy
The Minister of Finance did not confirm whether he was consulted or whether Treasury Board approved the contract, instead calling for collaboration over confrontation and citing health care improvements and travel nurse savings. Ministers Parrott and Petten defended the hire as transparent and part of the government's health plan without addressing the $13,000 bonus criteria.
Minister of Health's knowledge/approval of the contract and possible data breach
Asked by K. White · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister of Health did not directly confirm her approval or address the alleged data breach, instead emphasizing the staffer's help in fixing health care deficits and blaming the previous government for a lack of engagement, empty building leases, and an inadequate air ambulance contract.
MCP funds for political advice versus cancelled provincial hospital
Asked by S. Gambin-Walsh · Answered by B. Petten
The Minister of Transportation defended the hire as sound advice and called cancelling the hospital a fiscally smart decision because it was over $10 billion against an under-$11 billion budget.
MCP coverage for cleft lip/palate orthodontic procedures and denials
Asked by B. Ford · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister of Health confirmed medically essential cleft lip surgery is covered by MCP, blamed prior denials on the previous Liberal government, and committed to clarifying information and ensuring no one falls through the cracks, repeatedly asking the Member to provide the list of affected families. She acknowledged a health care deficit but pledged no child born with a cleft palate would be denied MCP access.
Possible breach of the Canada Health Act by using MCP funds
Asked by P. Parsons · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister of Health did not address the Canada Health Act concern, instead focusing on deficient air ambulance contracts signed by the prior Liberal government and eroding medivac services in her district.
Food bank use, basic income and affordable housing plan
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Wall
The Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being pointed to a forthcoming poverty reduction and prevention strategy and a robust plan for 10,000 new homes over five years developed with stakeholders, but did not commit to a guaranteed basic income or table specific housing details, timelines, or food bank funding.
Rate mitigation expiry, Bay du Nord revenue and home heating relief
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by C. Pardy
The Minister of Finance welcomed the projected $6.4 billion in Bay du Nord revenue and spoke of growing the economy to fund affordability, but did not present a 2030 rate mitigation plan or a specific home heating cost policy, instead citing the Seniors' Benefit increase and a higher basic personal exemption.
Orders of the Day
First reading of Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Future Fund Act
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Future Fund Act, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
First reading of Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, 2022
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 10 amending the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, 2022, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
Motion to establish the Striking Committee for Standing Committees
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved a housekeeping motion under Standing Order 65 to appoint a committee of five Members to compose the House's Standing Committees; the Member for Virginia Waters - Pleasantville confirmed Opposition support and the motion carried.
Interim Supply (Bill 3) and Lieutenant Governor's message
C. Pardy
The Minister of Finance gave notice and transmitted the Lieutenant Governor's message requesting Interim Supply of $3,985,930,500 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, which was referred to Committee of the Whole on Supply.
Committee of the Whole debate on Interim Supply (Bill 3)
Multiple
The House considered the Interim Supply resolution and Bill 3, with the Minister of Finance explaining that the amount covers roughly 33 per cent of the budget for three months and touching on the deficit, Bay du Nord, affordability measures, gas tax and food bank support. Members Stoodley, Joyce, Paddock, Dinn and O'Leary debated the province's finances, Blue Book commitments, the floating dry dock, Churchill Falls, health care beds, mental health and addictions, and the resolution and bill passed all stages.
Second reading debate on Bill 1, Act Respecting the Disability Advocate
Multiple
Debate continued on Bill 1 to establish a Disability Advocate, with the Member for Corner Brook sharing a constituent's story to argue that appointing an advocate must be followed by action, and Ministers and the Leader of the Third Party expressing strong support while sharing personal experiences and citing past cases of persons with disabilities who struggled to obtain supports. The Member for Mount Pearl North detailed her decades of advocacy work before the debate was adjourned.
Adjournment of the House
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved adjournment of debate and of the House, which carried, adjourning the House until Tuesday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Other business
Ruling on point of privilege regarding decorum and freedom of speech
The Speaker (Lane)
The Speaker ruled on a point of privilege raised by the Leader of the Third Party on March 5, 2026, finding no prima facie question of privilege but identifying a serious matter of order and decorum, and urging all Members to respect each other, the Chair, and the dignity of the institution.
Welcoming of guests to the galleries
The Speaker
The Speaker welcomed Dr. Avrum Richler (celebrating his 100th birthday), Margaret 'Muggs' Tibbo and members of Parasport Newfoundland and Labrador, and returning Page Emma Harris.
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.