Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Monday 30 March 2026
Question Period was dominated by the Official Opposition's attacks on the government's gas tax legislation (Bill 5) and its handling of major files including defence spending, hydroelectricity negotiations with Quebec, and early childhood educator wages, pensions and sick leave. Other exchanges addressed the crab fishery opening, roadwork decisions, the Johnson Geo Centre, Indigenous health care and incarceration, the Future Fund's transparency, medical travel assistance (MTAP) coverage, and the promised declaration of intimate partner violence as an epidemic. Ministers largely defended their approaches and deferred firm commitments, citing reviews, consultations and forthcoming updates. The sitting opened with the Speaker marking the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in Newfoundland and Labrador, honouring all women who have served as MHAs since 1930, and welcoming a new Table clerk. Members delivered statements recognizing community events and individuals, the Premier reported on CERAWeek 2026 in Houston, and the Minister of Women and Gender Equality recognized recipients of a centennial scholarship program. Notices of motion previewed private members' resolutions on housing, petitions were presented on emergency-department reopening and GPS monitoring for IPV offenders, and the House spent most of the day in Committee of the Whole on Bill 5 (gas tax), where a closure motion was passed 21-17 and an Opposition amendment to further reduce the gas tax was debated.
Members' Statements
Isle aux Morts Winter Classic
M. King
The Member recognized the Isle aux Morts Winter Classic, a February boot-hockey tradition founded by Vic Lawrence that celebrates community and heritage, thanking organizers, volunteers and participants.
Marc and Lorna Pittman of St. Lawrence
P. Pike
The Member recognized husband-and-wife coaches Marc and Lorna Pittman of St. Lawrence for their dedication as teachers, mentors and coaches who recently led teams to gold medals.
Athlete Nathan Bishop
R. Balsom
The Member recognized 16-year-old Nathan Bishop of Heart's Delight-Islington, an honours student and hockey captain selected to represent Canada at the 2026 World Under-16 Ball Hockey Championships in Slovakia.
Principal Andrea Burke-Clarke
F. Hutton
The Member paid tribute to St. Augustine's Elementary principal Andrea Burke-Clarke, recipient of the NLTA School Administrators' Council Distinguished Principal Award and a nominee for a national award.
Broadening Horizons organization
B. Ford
The Member recognized Gander-based Broadening Horizons for its pre-employment and group employment programs supporting adults with intellectual disabilities, including a recycling program that diverted millions of containers and electronic waste.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial statement on CERAWeek 2026
Premier Wakeham
The Premier reported on attending CERAWeek 2026 in Houston with the Minister of Energy and Mines, positioning the province as a globally competitive energy jurisdiction and highlighting strong interest following the Bay du Nord announcement. Opposition and Third Party members responded, arguing the province never left oil and gas and calling for transparency and investment in other energy sources.
Ministerial statement on 100th Anniversary scholarship program
L. Evans
The Minister of Women and Gender Equality recognized 100 young women in Grades 10-12 receiving $1,000 scholarships from among 284 applicants. Opposition and Third Party members welcomed the recognition but urged matching it with mentorship, opportunity and stronger fixed-election-date legislation.
Notices of motion on late sittings
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader gave notice that the House would not adjourn at the usual times on specified days (later corrected to April 1 and 2) to conduct government business.
Notice of private member's resolution on housing
K. Russell
The Member for Lake Melville read a private member's resolution criticizing the previous government's housing management, supporting the new government's oversight efforts, and calling for a comprehensive housing action plan, to be debated Wednesday April 1.
Notice of motion on Auditor General housing report
J. Wall
The Deputy Government House Leader gave notice of a motion expressing support for government action to fix systemic issues identified in the Auditor General's report on Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.
Petition to reopen Whitbourne 24-hour emergency unit
S. Gambin-Walsh
The Member presented a petition with over 2,000 signatures from 80 communities calling for the immediate reopening of the 24-hour emergency unit at the Dr. William H. Newhook Community Health Centre in Whitbourne as promised. The Minister of Health responded citing physician-recruitment barriers and reaffirming the PC commitment for Whitbourne and Botwood.
Petition for GPS ankle bracelet monitoring for IPV offenders
S. O'Leary
The Member tabled a petition urging implementation of an active GPS ankle-bracelet monitoring program as a bail option for those accused of serious or repeat intimate partner violence offences. The Minister of Health responded that government is working with police and advocates to find solutions to protect vulnerable individuals.
Question Period
Gas tax and Bill 5 / closure of debate
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier said the government is making permanent the elimination of eight cents of gas tax due to expire April 1, ensuring the lowest provincial gas tax in Canada, and argued the Liberal amendment would mainly benefit propane/forklift users rather than motorists at the pumps. He did not directly explain closing debate.
Fair share of federal defence spending
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier said the government is working closely with the federal government, noting a defence announcement coming April 1 in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and multiple ministerial meetings, and argued the province is 'built for defence,' while reminding the Opposition of their weaker record.
Hydro-Québec negotiations and offshore energy
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier avoided committing to reopening Hydro-Québec talks, emphasizing the province's natural resources, the Gull Island project and electrifying Labrador, and pledging that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will be the principal beneficiaries of their resources.
Early childhood educator wages, pensions and sick leave
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by P. Dinn
The minister declined to commit funding in this year's budget, saying he will work with the industry through an early childhood steering committee to prioritize needs (wages, sick leave, pensions, inclusive education) rather than acting on a single list, and challenged the Opposition to table its report.
Crab fishery pricing and April 5 opening date
Asked by E. Loveless · Answered by L. O’Driscoll
The minister said the government has held numerous meetings with FFAW and ASP over recent months and wants the crab season and fishery to start on time for plant workers, harvesters and processors, but did not explicitly guarantee the April 5 date.
Route 100 and Route 92 roadwork
Asked by S. Gambin-Walsh · Answered by B. Petten
The minister said the new administration developed a new roads program focused on safer communities across all 40 districts and denied cancelling work, stating decisions reflect what is best for the whole province.
Marine Atlantic passing lane project (Burgeo–La Poile)
Asked by M. King · Answered by B. Petten
The minister said no decision has been made on the passing lane, that it likely relates to funding, and while discussions with Marine Atlantic are ongoing, he could not commit either way on proceeding.
Potential closure of the Johnson Geo Centre
Asked by B. Ford · Answered by A. Barbour
The minister said the Geo Centre falls under Memorial University and is under review, and that being listed on the tourism website does not mean the provincial government runs it; the government is working with MUN on next steps.
Funding for an Indigenous health clinic (First Light)
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Evans
The minister denied calling it a duplication of services, called it a good proposal that is being reviewed, and said the government is looking at supporting Indigenous access to primary health care but must ensure proper implementation before deciding.
Indigenous overrepresentation in correctional facilities and culturally relevant programming
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by H. Conway Ottenheimer
The minister thanked First Light, called the overrepresentation unacceptable and the status quo unsustainable, and said the government has met with First Light twice recently and looks forward to future collaboration, without providing a specific timeline.
Provincial Court working group update after missed deadlines
Asked by P. Parsons · Answered by H. Conway Ottenheimer
The minister said she received the working group's comprehensive findings the previous Thursday, is reviewing short-, medium- and long-term goals, and committed to providing a public update later this week.
Future Fund interest earned in 2025 / transparency
Asked by S. Stoodley · Answered by C. Pardy
The minister declined to table the interest figure, instead stating that Future Fund legislation would be brought to the House for review and debate shortly, and criticized the previous government's budgetary management.
MTAP reimbursement for out-of-province life-saving surgery (Natalie Warren)
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by L. Evans
The minister said she could not speak to individual cases, that MTAP is not funded at 100 per cent but the government intends to increase coverage to 100 per cent, and that reimbursement depends on supporting documentation and policy limits, accusing the questioner of fear mongering.
Declaration of intimate partner violence as an epidemic
Asked by S. O’Leary · Answered by L. Evans
The minister did not give a date, criticizing the previous Liberal government's inaction and pledging the PC government would act 'the right way' through legislation and empowerment, similar to its approach with the Disabilities Advocate.
Timeline for culturally grounded programming for Indigenous reintegration
Asked by S. O’Leary · Answered by H. Conway Ottenheimer
The minister again thanked First Light, said the status quo is unacceptable and change is necessary, and noted meetings with First Light in recent weeks and various initiatives under consideration, but gave no specific timeline.
Orders of the Day
Motion to extend sitting hours
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30, which was carried.
Committee of the Whole and closure motion on Bill 5
L. Parrott
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Revenue Administration Act No. 2. The Government House Leader moved a closure motion under Standing Order 47 to end further adjournment of debate; a division was called and the motion carried 21-17.
Committee debate on Bill 5 gas tax and Opposition amendment
Multiple
Members debated Bill 5, which makes the existing gas tax reduction permanent, and an Opposition amendment (from the Member for Mount Scio) to further reduce the gas tax by an additional cent. Opposition and NDP members argued the reduction would provide immediate relief amid rising fuel prices driven by Middle East conflict, particularly for rural residents, seniors, small businesses and tourism, while government members raised points of order on relevance and noted the bill will give the province the lowest permanent gas tax in Canada.
Remarks on flaws in the gas tax amendment
E. Joyce
The Member for Humber - Bay of Islands said he sympathized with residents' cost pressures but would not support the amendment because it lacks an end date tied to pre-war oil prices and because failing to pass Bill 5 would let the tax rise on April 1, explaining these as reasons he supported closure.
Recess motion
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved that the House stand in recess until 6 p.m., which was adopted.
Other business
100th anniversary of women's right to vote and honouring women MHAs
The Speaker
The Speaker marked the conclusion of the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote and hold public office in the province, recounted the history of the 1925 amendment, and honoured by name all women who have served as MHAs since Lady Helena Squires in 1930.
Welcome of new Table clerk and gallery guest
The Speaker
The Speaker welcomed Tomas Brosnan, a Legislative Library information specialist serving as journaling clerk on certain days, and welcomed Andrea Burke-Clarke and her family in the public gallery.
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.