Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Thursday 19 March 2026
Question Period was dominated by Opposition attacks on the Premier's appointment of Dr. Des Whalen as a special advisor paid roughly $275,000 from MCP/administrative funds, which the Liberals characterized as a misuse of health-care money for partisan political advice and part of a 'cover-up.' Government ministers repeatedly deflected by touting their platform health-care commitments (free nurse practitioner visits, expanded medical travel coverage) and attacking the previous Liberal government over an Auditor General report on housing failures. Other lines of questioning covered Newfoundland's exclusion from a national electricity grid/energy agreement, the fate of federal funding for road twinning projects, and the housing/homelessness crisis raised by the Third Party. The House welcomed several galleries of visitors tied to the day's Members' statements before hearing statements recognizing community organizations and a young broadcaster. The Minister of Seniors delivered a ministerial statement honouring caregivers, and Members presented petitions on the Port aux Basques court, rebuilding Cabot Academy, and Red Bay dock infrastructure. The central business of the day was the introduction of Bill 11 and the second reading, detailed Committee of the Whole review with multiple amendments, and third reading passage of Bill 1, An Act Respecting the Disability Advocate.
Members' Statements
Chalker Place Neighbourhood Centre
S. O'Leary
The Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi recognized the staff and volunteers of the Chalker Place Neighbourhood Centre, including Nikita Ryall, Margaret Connors and Michelle Hutchings, for supporting families in social housing.
Cowan Heights United Church
K. White
The Member for St. John's West recognized the Cowan Heights United Church as an inclusive community hub with a community garden, food pantry and weekly meals, led by Reverend Oliver Dingwell.
Seth Hyde
B. Davis
The Member for Virginia Waters - Pleasantville recognized 17-year-old Seth Hyde, play-by-play broadcaster for the Newfoundland Regiment QMJHL team and founder of a charitable sports initiative.
Kilbride 50 Plus Club
J. Korab
The Member for Waterford Valley recognized the Kilbride 50 Plus Club for over 40 years of bringing seniors together, acknowledging president Sharon White and members Linda Snow and Margaret Rose Kavanagh.
SPCA St. John's
J. Hogan
The Member for Windsor Lake recognized the SPCA St. John's for its thrift stores, pet safekeeping program, foster and volunteer programs, educational partnerships and new Community Engagement Centre.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial Statement on Caregivers
C. Pardy
The Minister of Seniors recognized caregivers as the quiet heroes of communities and reaffirmed government's commitment to supporting seniors and caregivers; responses came from the Members for Mount Pearl North and St. John's East - Quidi Vidi calling for greater investment in home support workers.
Petition to reopen Provincial Court in Port aux Basques
M. King
The Member for Burgeo - La Poile presented a petition urging government to reopen the Port aux Basques Provincial Court; the Minister of Justice and Public Safety responded that findings from the working group are expected next week.
Petition to rebuild Cabot Academy
J. Dinn
The Leader of the Third Party presented a petition urging the timely rebuilding of Cabot Academy after the Kingston wildfire, noting concerns about consultation timing and mental health supports; the Minister of Education responded on the commitment to rebuild and efforts to rightsize the school.
Petition on Red Bay dock infrastructure
L. Dempster
The Member for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair presented a petition urging repairs to the Red Bay dock ahead of the 2027 arrival of the Nao San Juan; the Minister of Labrador Affairs responded, criticizing past Liberal infrastructure decisions.
Question Period
Use of MCP funds for political staff in the Premier's office
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier did not address the MCP spending directly, instead pivoting to government health-care commitments such as free nurse practitioner visits and expanded medical transportation coverage.
Newfoundland's exclusion from national electricity grid/energy agreement
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier insisted the province is not being left out and that his government is standing up for the best deal on resources, noting an upcoming meeting with the federal Energy Minister, but did not explain the exclusion or address allegations of misinformation.
Misuse of MCP funds and alleged cover-up regarding Dr. Des Whalen
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister of Health defended the appointment as a special advisor providing health-care advice paid from administrative dollars, and deflected by attacking Liberal record on agency nurses, Family Care Teams and hospital cost estimates.
Manipulation of access to information and the Whalen calendar
Asked by K. White · Answered by L. Parrott
The Government House Leader deflected by claiming the former premier (now Opposition Leader) had authorized NLHS to pay a special advisor in the same manner, while the Health Minister maintained Whalen provides health-care advice paid from administrative funds.
Whether MCP funds are being used for non-health advice and to prepare Whalen to run for office
Asked by S. Gambin-Walsh · Answered by L. Parrott
The Government House Leader did not deny the substance, instead attacking the previous Liberal government's health-care record and use of NLHS funding.
Whalen invited to non-health meetings and whether he is being groomed to run
Asked by P. Parsons · Answered by B. Petten
The Deputy Premier made no apologies, saying the government will take advice from a qualified person and expressed hope Whalen would one day sit in the House; he acknowledged Whalen sat in on an infrastructure meeting but said many invited people did not attend.
Federal contribution for road twinning projects in the Roads Plan
Asked by E. Loveless · Answered by B. Petten
The Minister said the twinning is in the roads program but declined to disclose amounts to avoid revealing bids, stating there is not a large amount this year because little work is expected, and criticized the questioner rather than confirming the federal contribution.
Fate of $158 million federal contribution for twinning projects
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by B. Petten
The Minister said the government has not walked away from the $150 million, that it flows over 10 years and is budgeted, with $250 million in the roads program this year and only a small portion of twinning work starting this year.
Defending the $275,000 MCP-funded appointment to rural constituents
Asked by M. King · Answered by L. Evans
The Health Minister did not defend the appointment directly, instead highlighting a Blue Book commitment to increase MTAP medical travel coverage to 100 per cent for specialized MCP-insured care.
Why health-care adviser Whalen attended a Cenovus Energy meeting
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by L. Parrott
The Government House Leader did not explain the meeting, instead attacking the Opposition over the Auditor General's housing report and disputing the number of homes actually built under the previous government.
Removing HST from home heating for seniors
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by C. Pardy
The Finance Minister did not commit to removing HST but said affordability measures from the platform to help those in need would appear in the upcoming budget.
Enshrining housing as a human right, declaring a housing emergency, and reducing emergency shelter use
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Wall
The Housing Minister welcomed the AG report and committed to implementing its recommendations and a plan for 10,000 homes over five years, prioritizing refurbishing units to move people out of shelters, but did not commit to enshrining housing as a human right or formally declaring a housing emergency.
Orders of the Day
Bill 11 - An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act (First Reading)
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader introduced Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, which was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
Motion not to adjourn at 5:30 p.m.
L. Parrott
The House adopted a motion under Standing Order 11(1) that it not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19.
Bill 1 - An Act Respecting the Disability Advocate (Second Reading debate)
Multiple
Members debated second reading of Bill 1 establishing the Office of the Disability Advocate; the Member for Mount Scio raised accessibility concerns including the Throne Speech failing visual accessibility checks, while Members for Virginia Waters - Pleasantville and Burgeo - La Poile expressed support, and the Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being closed debate thanking advocates and announcing five forthcoming amendments.
Bill 1 - Committee of the Whole
Multiple
The Committee examined Bill 1 clause by clause with extensive questioning by the Members for Placentia - St. Mary's, the Leader of the Official Opposition and the Leader of the Third Party on independence, budget, access and definitions; several amendments passed, including replacing 'disability services' with 'services', adding a disability lens to the selection process, allowing the Advocate to act without consent in prescribed circumstances, and enabling meetings with parents, caregivers or guardians.
Bill 1 - Report, Amendments and Third Reading
L. Parrott
The Committee reported Bill 1 with amendments; the amendments were read a first and second time and Bill 1, An Act Respecting the Disability Advocate, was read a third time by leave, ordered passed with unanimous support.
Notices of Motion and Recess
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader gave notice under Standing Order 11(1) that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30, and moved that the House recess until 6:30 p.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.