Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 31 March 2026
Question Period was dominated by affordability concerns, particularly rising gas prices and the government's decision to freeze rather than lower the gas tax, and calls to remove HST from home heating. Opposition members pressed the Energy Minister on the Churchill Falls MOU, the review panel, and the federal 'one project, one review' agreement, while multiple MHAs challenged the Transportation Minister over cancelled or incomplete road and bridge projects, including zero roadwork funding for Labrador. Other exchanges covered the ending Labrador Air Access Program, CorCare rollout concerns from physicians, tourism, housing/HST relief, rent control, and social worker shortages. The House celebrated Labrador Flag Day and the 75th anniversary of WorkplaceNL through ministerial statements, and heard Members' statements recognizing the Labrador Winter Games, Legion Branch 13, Beothic Fish Processors, a community volunteer and scholarship recipients. Numerous strategic plans and activity plans were tabled, along with petitions on Bishop's Cove roadwork, seniors' benefits and rental increase limitations. The bulk of the day was devoted to debate on a government resolution accepting the Auditor General's report on Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation and committing to fix systemic issues, which passed.
Members' Statements
Labrador Winter Games
L. Dempster
Recognized the Labrador Winter Games held in Happy Valley-Goose Bay March 8-14 with 321 athletes, record sponsorship over $250,000 and record-breaking performances, thanking organizers, volunteers, the town and 5 Wing.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 13
J. Parsons
Congratulated Branch 13 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Corner Brook on their bi-annual veterans' dinner and thanked the branch for honouring veterans and strengthening the community.
Beothic Fish Processors Limited
J. McKenna
Recognized Beothic Fish Processors of Valleyfield for its seafood processing operations, sourcing from about 900 harvesters and employing 400 workers, and its contribution to the province's fishery.
Volunteer Max Taylor of Boxey
E. Loveless
Recognized Max Taylor for his years of community service as mayor, Lions Club member, ambulance operator and fundraiser, thanking him for his leadership and dedication.
Scholarship recipients from Ascension Collegiate
P. Parsons
Congratulated Kelsey Fifield, Paige Morgan and Sierra Murphy on receiving the 100th Anniversary of Women Achieving the Right to Vote and Hold Public Office Scholarship for their leadership and community involvement.
Routine Proceedings
Labrador Flag Day
L. Evans
The Minister of Labrador Affairs recognized March 31 as Labrador Flag Day, honouring the flag designed by Michael S. Martin, with responses from L. Dempster and J. Dinn who also called for action on air access supports (Labrador Air Access Program and Hope Air).
75th Anniversary of WorkplaceNL
M. Goosney
The Minister Responsible for WorkplaceNL recognized the organization's 75th anniversary and its role in reducing injury rates and protecting workers, with responses from K. White and J. Dinn, who called for a 90 per cent income replacement rate and publication of OHS inspection reports.
Tabling of strategic and activity plans
Multiple
Ministers tabled numerous documents including 2026-2028 strategic plans for the Oil and Gas Corporation, NL Hydro and WorkplaceNL, activity plans for fish harvester boards, Chicken Farmers, the Private Training Corporation and the Government Money Purchase Pension Plan Committee, plus an Order-in-Council on funding pre-commitments.
Petition on Bishop's Cove roadwork
P. Parsons
Presented a petition urging government to address road deficiencies in Bishop's Cove, criticizing the $66 million decrease in the Roads Plan, and called on the minister to include all communities.
Petition for increases to seniors' benefits
P. Pike
Presented a petition calling for increases to the Seniors' Benefit, doubling of the Aging Well at Home and Caregiver benefits, and raising thresholds for seniors' programming and housing eligibility.
Petition on rental increase limitations
S. O'Leary
Presented a petition urging legislation to limit annual rent increases, citing predatory increases, gentrification and constituents at risk of being unhoused.
Question Period
Gas prices and refusal to lower the gas tax
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier attributed high prices to the Middle East conflict and said the province legislated a freeze on the gas tax, noting NL has the lowest provincial gas tax in the country, and called on the federal government to act. He refused to further lower the tax, pointing to upcoming budget measures.
Federal 'one project, one review' agreement
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by L. Parrott
The minister said the previous government left the province behind and confirmed the government is signing on, while lobbying to include the offshore in the agreement.
Churchill Falls MOU review panel and Bay du Nord deal transparency
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by L. Parrott
The minister defended the review process, criticized the previous government's record on transparency, and said agreements will be made public once cleared of commercial sensitivities, insisting NL will be the primary beneficiary.
Isle aux Morts brook bridge safety on Route 470
Asked by M. King · Answered by B. Petten
The minister assured that qualified staff assess all 1,184 bridges, unsafe bridges are closed and restrictions posted, and replacements are ongoing.
Road projects in Liberal districts and balanced approach
Asked by P. Parsons · Answered by B. Petten
The minister said he will fix roads regardless of district but is pursuing a balanced approach after years of PC districts being neglected, offering no firm commitment on specific projects.
Incomplete paving on Route 100 and Route 90 projects
Asked by S. Gambin-Walsh · Answered by B. Petten
The minister said a contractor pulled out of the Route 100 section making completion costly, insisted it is not cancellation, and would pave if a reasonable price can be found; he reiterated the commitment to safer communities and balanced spending.
Cancelled road projects in Burin - Grand Bank and driver safety
Asked by P. Pike · Answered by B. Petten
The minister said some projects involved flawed tenders cancelled by the department, denied cancelling generally, and challenged whether the roads were unsafe under the previous government, committing to safe roads for all.
Zero roadwork funding for Labrador
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by B. Petten
The minister cited the province's investments in the Trans-Labrador Highway and north coast ferry service, said brush cutting was the current priority, and argued the Member already received more than her fair share of roadwork.
Johnson Geo Centre and Tourism involvement
Asked by B. Ford · Answered by A. Barbour
The minister said the Geo Centre is owned by Memorial University and listed on the Tourism website, and the government will work with either MUN or a new owner depending on the outcome.
Porter Airlines fuel surcharge and tourism access
Asked by B. Ford · Answered by C. Pardy
The Finance Minister gave a general response that the government will look at anything that provides an advantage and improves access and affordability, without a specific commitment.
End of the Labrador Air Access Program
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister of Labrador Affairs called the previous program misleading and difficult to use, saying the upcoming budget will include measures to address air access and affordability.
CorCare and CorCare Link rollout and physician concerns
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Evans
The Health Minister said she is working with doctors and NL Health Services, claimed the original rollout would have alienated family doctors, and said the government will do things differently and save positions, without committing to a staggered rollout.
Removing HST from home heating
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by C. Pardy
The Finance Minister noted the previous government never made the gas tax reduction permanent and said the government will look at every affordability measure, but made no commitment to remove HST from home heating.
Rent control implementation
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by M. Goosney
The minister expressed passion for housing solutions and said he will continue meeting with stakeholders and is open to ideas, but offered no concrete commitment on rent controls.
Social worker shortage and reduced Memorial University seats
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by J. Wall
The minister said the government values social workers, has over 300 employed, and will continue to lobby for more university seats to address the shortage.
Removing HST on new home construction
Asked by J. Korab · Answered by J. Wall
The Housing Minister said he would take the idea away and have discussions with staff, committing to develop a plan but not to the specific HST removal.
Freight boat service between the Island and Coast of Labrador
Asked by E. Loveless · Answered by B. Petten
The minister said the government is working to add extra runs and provide another vessel to move freight up the coast earlier once ice breaks, crediting his colleague from Torngat Mountains for advocacy.
Orders of the Day
Motion not to adjourn at 5:30 p.m.
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved, pursuant to Standing Order 11(1), that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on March 31; the motion carried.
Resolution on Auditor General's report on NL Housing Corporation
J. Wall
The government moved a resolution expressing support for fixing long-standing systemic issues identified in the Auditor General's report on Newfoundland and Labrador Housing and taking immediate decisive action to strengthen accountability. The debate saw contributions from J. Wall, P. Pike, J. Dinn, Premier Wakeham, E. Joyce, K. Russell, S. O'Leary, F. Hutton, R. Balsom, E. Loveless and H. Cormier, addressing governance failures, aging housing stock, mismatched unit sizes, wait-list growth, maintenance staffing shortages, emergency shelter costs and rural challenges; the resolution carried.
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.