Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 10 March 2026
Question Period was dominated by the Opposition's sustained attack on the Premier over a political staffer (Dr. Whalen) allegedly paid from MCP/health care funds, with the government repeatedly deflecting to Liberal health care spending records and characterizing the criticism as misinformation. Other themes included rising fuel and heating costs amid the Middle East conflict, mental health beds, early childhood educator contracts and benefits, tourism, and transparency measures including the basic income report, conflict of interest disclosures and cooling-off periods for former politicians. The House welcomed several distinguished guests and recognized notable individuals through Members' statements and Ministerial Statements, including former mayor Shannie Duff and retiring curling champion Brad Gushue. Ministers marked Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month and Agricultural Safety Week, while petitions were presented on police staffing, HST on children's products, and school bus safety. The bulk of the sitting was devoted to second reading debate on Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act No. 2, which permanently reduces the gas tax, with debate adjourned before conclusion.
Members' Statements
Recognition of Shannie Duff
S. O'Leary
The Member celebrated Shannie Duff's decades of contributions to municipal history and the inaugural Shannie Duff Inspiration Award recognizing her legacy of leadership and mentorship.
Recognition of Colin Barry, Teacher of the Year
K. White
The Member congratulated Grade 5 teacher Colin Barry of École St. Matthew's, 2025 recipient of the Canadian Parents for French Teacher of the Year Award, for his dedication to French education and community involvement.
Recognition of Jaida Lee
B. Davis
The Member recognized 19-year-old baseball player Jaida Lee for her achievements, including being drafted by New York, playing for Team Canada, and being inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Recognition of Karen Sherriffs
J. Korab
The Member recognized Karen Sherriffs, former CEO of the 2025 Canada Games and newly appointed Chef de Mission for the 2027 Games, for her decades of leadership in sport and recreation.
Recognition of McSheffrey Resource Centre
J. Hogan
The Member recognized the McSheffrey Resource Centre in Windsor Lake and its staff and volunteers for providing essential services and programs supporting community well-being and inclusion.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial Statement on Agriculture Literacy Month and Safety Week
P. Forsey
The Minister of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands marked Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month and Agricultural Safety Week, highlighting Agriculture in the Classroom, their new storybook, and the goal to grow more of what we eat. Opposition (E. Loveless) and NDP (J. Dinn) responded, praising farmers and calling for more accessible supports and a 10-year agricultural strategy.
Ministerial Statement on Brad Gushue's retirement
A. Barbour
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts recognized Brad Gushue's retirement, celebrating his record as a two-time Olympic medallist, world champion, six-time Brier winner and 15-time Grand Slam winner. J. Korab, a former Team Gushue member, and S. O'Leary (NDP) responded with congratulations, with the NDP repeating calls for more affordable and accessible sports.
Tabling of Kenmount Crossing hospital documents
B. Petten
The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure tabled a cost estimate of the cancelled Kenmount Crossing hospital and the accompanying infrastructure technical briefing.
Petition on supports for police officers
P. Parsons
The Member presented a petition urging government to increase police staffing, recruit more RNC and RCMP officers, improve retention and reduce burnout, citing an 80-officer shortage. The Minister of Justice and Public Safety responded that government is working with partners on public safety and is encouraged by recruitment numbers.
Petition to remove HST on children's products
S. O'Leary
The Member presented a petition urging government to remove the provincial portion of the HST from children's car seats, clothing, diapers and footwear, citing cost-of-living pressures on families.
Petition on school bus stop safety on Walsh's Lane
J. Korab
The Member presented a petition urging government to investigate a bus stop requiring young students to cross a busy street and make route changes to ensure student safety. The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure responded that such matters should first be submitted to his department for review.
Question Period
Contradictory statements about health-funded staffer and legality of paying political staff from MCP funds
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier repeatedly declined to reconcile his conflicting statements, instead pivoting to criticism of a decade of Liberal health care spending and outcomes; he made no excuses for spending to improve health services. The Minister of Health added that the doctor is paid from administration dollars, not patient service funds, calling the Opposition's framing misinformation.
Whether Dr. Browne was a bureaucrat versus political staff (TI minister comparisons)
Asked by J. Korab · Answered by B. Petten
The minister said he found an unknown special advisor to the Premier occupying space in his department paid by NLHS, that the person provided no meaningful service, and that the Premier removed them in January; he dismissed the distinction as a moot point and vowed to root out other political appointees.
NAPE outrage over use of health funds for political purposes
Asked by K. White · Answered by L. Evans
The minister did not address the insult claim directly, instead stating that NAPE welcomed and praised the government's engagement, and that the union's concern has always been about investment in resources, not staff.
Gas tax relief amid rising oil prices from the Middle East conflict
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier said the government introduced legislation to make the existing 50 per cent gas tax cut permanent before its March 31 expiry, but did not commit to any further reduction, listing other affordability measures instead.
Governing through fear of public servants
Asked by S. Stoodley · Answered by B. Petten
The minister said public servants doing their jobs have nothing to worry about, contrasting with the previous administration, but warned that political appointees not providing meaningful work would be removed to address the deficit.
Mental health care beds and community supports plan
Asked by S. Gambin-Walsh · Answered by L. Evans
The minister acknowledged recent increases in beds (six in Labrador-Grenfell, five in Eastern-Urban) but said this is not enough, committing to increase both the number of beds and access to a diverse spectrum of mental health services rather than relying on virtual or phone options.
Impact of rising fuel costs on tourism and airline subsidies
Asked by B. Ford · Answered by A. Barbour
The minister gave no specific plan, saying the economy fluctuates normally and that she would continue meetings with airlines and airports and assess as needed while promoting Newfoundland and Labrador as a tourism capital.
Mitigating rising fuel prices on groceries and home heating costs
Asked by J. Parsons · Answered by C. Pardy
The minister pointed to the government's platform affordability measures, including the permanent gas tax reduction, a 20 per cent Seniors' Benefit increase, expanded Child Benefit and raised basic personal exemption, without directly committing to continue or expand the home heating supplement.
Consultation and benefits for early childhood educators before March 31 contract changes
Asked by P. Pike · Answered by P. Dinn
The minister said consultations occurred and the feedback period was extended, with the program to roll out March 31; on pensions and sick leave he referenced a four-year plan and committed to honour campaign commitments and continue consultations.
Release of the All-Party Committee report on Basic Income
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by C. Pardy
The Finance Minister said he saw no problem releasing the report and it would be released in short course, and the Minister of Social Supports later reiterated it would be released soon but could not commit to a March deadline.
Extending the cooling-off period to include board appointments for former politicians
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier said he would take the recommendation under advisement and did not disagree, noting a number of things need cleaning up around former MHAs and premiers, including office space provisions.
Publishing MHA conflict of interest disclosures online
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier committed to looking into why the province differs from other jurisdictions and to take the matter into consideration, without a firm commitment or timeline.
Delay in advocating to the federal government on pharmacare despite health advisor
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by L. Evans
The minister said she raised the exclusion of Newfoundland and Labrador from the pharmacare pilot in multiple meetings with the federal minister, wants to sign on, and blamed the previous government for allowing the door to close.
Orders of the Day
Bill 5 - An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act No. 2 (permanent gas tax reduction), second reading
Multiple
The House debated second reading of Bill 5, which permanently maintains the reduction of the gas tax at 7.5 cents per litre. Government members (H. Cormier, M. Butt, K. Russell, R. Balsom, H. Conway Ottenheimer, L. O'Driscoll, C. Tibbs, L. Paddock, P. Forsey) praised the permanence and its benefits for rural residents and industries, while Opposition members (J. Parsons, P. Parsons, M. King, E. Joyce, B. Ford, E. Loveless) and the NDP (J. Dinn, S. O'Leary) supported the bill but noted it maintains an existing measure rather than providing new relief and called for further affordability actions. Debate was adjourned before conclusion.
Adjournment of debate and of the House
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved that debate on Bill 5 be adjourned and that the House do now adjourn until Wednesday, March 11 at 10 a.m.; both motions carried.
Other business
Welcoming of guests to the galleries
The Speaker
The Speaker welcomed former St. John's mayor and MHA Shannie Duff, curling champion Brad Gushue and his family and teammate Mark Nichols, teacher Colin Barry and his Grade 5 class, representatives of the McSheffrey Resource Centre and the NL Federation of Agriculture, and new Page Ella Niblock.
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.