Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 21 April 2026
Question Period was dominated by the Churchill Falls MOU set to expire April 30, with the Opposition and Third Party pressing the Premier to reveal his position and confirm whether the deal is dead, while he repeatedly deferred to the ongoing independent review. Other major themes included demands to release the signed Bay du Nord agreement, commitments to early childhood educators ahead of the budget, gas tax relief, and calls to ban corporate and union political donations. Health service closures and an allegedly AI-altered tourism photo also featured, with government ministers frequently deflecting by attacking the Opposition's own record. The House welcomed guests including David and Christina Fong of Quidi Vidi Brewery and Order of Newfoundland and Labrador recipient Philip Pratt before Members delivered statements and ministers recognized National Volunteer Week and National Tourism Week. Routine proceedings included tabling of the Striking Committee report, the C-NLOER annual report and other documents, notices of motion (including an NDP private member's motion on Newfoundland Power executive pay), and several road and public safety petitions. In Orders of the Day, Bill 12 (amending the Children's Law Act and Family Law Act) received first reading, and second reading debate began on Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Future Fund Act, which drew extensive Opposition criticism before debate was adjourned.
Members' Statements
Quidi Vidi Brewery 30th anniversary
S. O'Leary
Recognized Quidi Vidi Brewery, founded in 1996, as the province's largest craft brewery and a cornerstone employer, congratulating it on 30 years of success.
Big Brothers Big Sisters and Kelly Leach
K. White
Recognized Big Brothers Big Sisters for supporting 479 young people in 2025 and honoured executive director Kelly Leach, who is stepping down after more than 25 years.
Philip Pratt, Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
B. Davis
Honoured constituent and architect Philip Pratt, lead architect of The Rooms, on his investiture into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Madeline Piercey
J. Korab
Celebrated the life of Madeline Piercey, a longtime St. Clare's Hospital worker and lover of sport who married in 1947 and remains active.
Row4Heart event
J. Hogan
Recognized the Row4Heart rowing event held April 19 that raised funds for cardiac care and the Health Care Foundation.
Routine Proceedings
National Volunteer Week
J. Wall
The Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being recognized April 19-25 as National Volunteer Week; the Member for Placentia - St. Mary's and the Leader of the Third Party responded, calling for stable operational funding for grassroots organizations.
National Tourism Week
A. Barbour
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts recognized National Tourism Week, noting tourism contributes over $1.4 billion and 20,000 jobs; the Members for Gander and St. John's East - Quidi Vidi responded, seeking plans on air access and stable arts funding.
Report of the Striking Committee
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader presented the report of the Striking Committee for the 51st General Assembly pursuant to Standing Order 65.
Tabling of documents
L. Parrott
Tabled the 2024-25 C-NLOER annual report and the Department of Energy and Mines mineral incentive programs junior exploration assistance program evaluation; the Member for Gander tabled documents referenced in Question Period, and the Speaker tabled House of Assembly Management Commission minutes.
Notices of motion on sitting hours
L. Parrott
Gave notice that the House would not adjourn at 5 p.m. on April 22 (continuing to midnight) and not at 5:30 p.m. on April 23.
NDP private member's motion on Newfoundland Power executive pay
J. Dinn
Gave notice of a private member's motion urging amendments to the Public Utilities Act to cap Newfoundland Power executive salaries at deputy minister rates and fund bonuses from shareholders rather than ratepayers, to be debated April 22.
Petition to pave road from Little Bay East to Harbour Mille
P. Pike
Presented a petition to pave and upgrade the deteriorated 35-year-old road; the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure responded that it is not currently on the list and criticized the request as disingenuous.
Petition for GPS ankle bracelet monitoring for IPV offenders
S. O'Leary
Presented a petition urging implementation of GPS ankle bracelet monitoring for those accused of violent intimate partner violence on bail; the Minister of Justice responded that the feasibility is being explored as a priority in coordination with stakeholders.
Petition to complete work on Route 100 Cape Shore road
S. Gambin-Walsh
Presented a petition with 304 signatures urging completion and prioritization of paving and bridge repairs on Route 100, noting predetermined work was cancelled.
Petition for improvements to Route 480
M. King
Presented a petition urging comprehensive improvements to Route 480 including paving, shoulders and drainage, thanking the minister for meeting and urging staff be given tools to address deterioration.
Question Period
Churchill Falls MOU expiry and the Premier's position
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier confirmed he spoke with Quebec's new Premier but would not commit to extending the April 30 deadline, insisting the independent review will conclude by end of April with recommendations, and refused to state his own position on the MOU, saying only he would not sign another 50-year deal without the review.
Release of the Bay du Nord agreement
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by L. Parrott
The Premier and Minister of Energy said the four parties (Newfoundland and Labrador, OilCo, BP and Equinor) are still scrutinizing the deal for commercial sensitivity and it will be released publicly afterward, offering no specific date, while accusing the previous government of never releasing any deals.
Commitments to early childhood educators (pensions, sick leave, wage grid, spaces)
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by C. Pardy
The Finance Minister affirmed the government values ECEs and committed to living up to its blue book promises through a working committee, but would not confirm whether measures would be in the upcoming budget, saying details await the April 29 budget and must fit the fiscal envelope.
Allegedly AI-generated or doctored tourism photo of The Rooms
Asked by B. Ford · Answered by A. Barbour
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts said she was unaware of the image in question and would review the Facebook post and get back to the Member.
Cutting the provincial gas tax
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by C. Pardy
The Finance Minister and Premier declined to commit to a further provincial gas tax cut, pointing to affordability measures coming in the April 29 budget and noting the province already has a permanent legislated reduction and the lowest provincial gas tax in the country.
Minister's social media characterization of the Liberal gas tax amendment as temporary and last-minute
Asked by S. Stoodley · Answered by C. Pardy
The Finance Minister answered on behalf of the Minister of Government Services, defending the characterization by arguing measures are generally temporary and the amendment was flawed and rushed, and declined to correct the record.
Early closure of the east end St. John's Urgent Care Centre
Asked by B. Davis · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister of Health acknowledged the closure was unacceptable and blamed recruitment and retention problems inherited from the previous government, committing to address them and keep Urgent Care Centres open.
Public release and House debate of the MOU review report, and independence of the panel
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier said he intends to give the public and the House an opportunity to review the report expected by April 30, and rejected claims the panel's conclusions are pre-ordained, insisting the review is truly independent and he will not commit the province for another 50 years without it.
Banning corporate and union political donations / capping donations
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by L. Parrott
The Minister of Energy did not commit to donation reforms, instead attacking the Third Party for accepting over $82,000 in union donations and accusing them of hypocrisy on the issue.
Interim actions to recruit and retain ECEs while the steering committee sets priorities
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by L. Parrott
The Minister of Energy did not address interim ECE recruitment measures, instead criticizing the Third Party's platform and its support of a federal leader he claims would shut down the oil industry.
Orders of the Day
Motion not to adjourn at 5:30 p.m. April 21
L. Parrott
Moved Motion 2 that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21; the motion carried.
Bill 12 - An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act and the Family Law Act (first reading)
H. Conway Ottenheimer
The Minister of Justice and Public Safety introduced Bill 12 for first reading; it was read a first time and ordered read a second time tomorrow.
Bill 9 - An Act to Amend the Future Fund Act (second reading debate)
Multiple
The Minister of Finance moved second reading, explaining the amendments make contributions discretionary rather than mandatory, restrict withdrawals to debt and liabilities, remove extraordinary-circumstances provisions, and increase sinking fund contributions, projecting $1.9 billion in reduced borrowing over 10 years. Opposition members (Stoodley, Hutton, Gambin-Walsh, P. Parsons, O'Leary, J. Parsons, Davis, Korab) strongly criticized the bill for weakening the fund, removing mandatory non-renewable resource contributions, the short preparation time, and timing ahead of the budget, while Joyce sought clarifications; debate was adjourned before conclusion.
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.