Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 5 May 2026
Question Period was dominated by two energy files: the Bay du Nord benefits agreement and the Churchill Falls MOU. The Opposition Liberals attacked the government over the lack of topside fabrication work in the province, the $200 million compensation payment, and redactions in the released agreement, while pressing the Premier to state his position on the MOU and disclose undisclosed advisors. Other exchanges covered long-term care and dementia supports, urgent out-of-province medical care, Labrador health transportation disputes, oil company windfall profits and cost of living, and Indigenous rights on Red Dress Day. The sitting opened with the Leader of the Official Opposition raising a combined point of order, privilege and contempt regarding the Speaker's directive on photography/videography in the parliamentary precinct for partisan purposes, which the Speaker took under advisement. Members delivered statements honouring community groups and individuals, and Ministers made statements marking Red Dress Day and paying tribute to Leo Cose and the late Eg Walters. The House then passed Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Future Fund Act, at third reading following extended Committee of the Whole debate and a division (22-16), and began debate on Budget 2026 with contributions on municipal capital works and social policy.
Members' Statements
Breast Friends breast cancer support group in Corner Brook
J. Parsons
The Member for Corner Brook recognized Breast Friends, a breast cancer survivor support group founded 18 years ago that now runs an annual conference for women with cancer on the West Coast.
Closure of J. Petite & Sons Ltd.
E. Loveless
The Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune recognized the closure of the 130-year-old J. Petite & Sons Ltd. of English Harbour West and thanked the Petite family for their contribution to the South Coast.
Gander Airport International Lounge heritage designation
B. Ford
The Member for Gander recognized the Gander Airport International Lounge, designated a Registered Heritage Structure in March 2026, and congratulated its volunteer board and airport authority.
The Helping Hand and retirement of Darlene Kearley
P. Parsons
The Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave recognized The Helping Hand goodwill centre and food bank in Bay Roberts and congratulated Darlene Kearley on her retirement after 21 years managing it.
Menihek Nordic Ski Club and Great Labrador Loppet
J. Power
The Member for Labrador West recognized the Menihek Nordic Ski Club and thanked organizers, sponsors and volunteers for another successful Great Labrador Loppet and ski season.
Indy's Innovators robotics team
H. Conway Ottenheimer
By leave, the Member for Harbour Main congratulated Indy's Innovators from Roncalli Central High, the first provincial team to qualify for the FIRST Tech Challenge at the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston.
Tribute to Bernard 'Fox' Reddy
J. Hogan
By leave, the Member for Windsor Lake honoured the life and soccer legacy of Bernard 'Fox' Reddy and asked members to observe a moment of silence.
103rd birthday of Josephine 'JoJo' Woodfine
P. Dinn
By leave, the Member for Topsail - Paradise celebrated Josephine 'JoJo' Woodfine's 103rd birthday and acknowledged Fox Reddy's soccer legacy.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial Statement: Red Dress Day
L. Evans
The Minister of Women and Gender Equality recognized the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-spirited people (Red Dress Day), citing disproportionate rates of violence; Opposition and Third Party members responded calling for concrete action and resources.
Ministerial Statement: Tribute to the late Eg Walters
J. Wall
The Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being paid tribute to the late Egbert 'Eg' Walters, longtime head of the Community Food Sharing Association, with members observing a moment of silence and Opposition and Third Party members offering condolences.
Ministerial Statement: Retirement of Leo Cose
B. Petten
The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure recognized Leo Cose's retirement at age 83 after more than 50 years of service at the Renews depot; Opposition and NDP members joined in thanking him, with the NDP calling for a review of the Job Evaluation System.
Tabling of Seniors' Advocate Activity Plan
The Speaker
The Speaker tabled the 2026-2029 Activity Plan for the Office of the Seniors' Advocate under the Transparency and Accountability Act.
Petition for GPS ankle bracelet monitoring for IPV offenders
S. O'Leary
The Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi presented a petition urging immediate implementation of an active GPS ankle bracelet monitoring program for those accused of serious or repeated intimate partner violence released on bail; the Minister of Justice responded citing ongoing consultation and feasibility work.
Petition for Route 470 road improvements
M. King
The Member for Burgeo - La Poile presented a petition from residents urging comprehensive improvements to Route 470 on the Southwest Coast, including resurfacing, shoulder rehabilitation and drainage.
Question Period
Bay du Nord topside fabrication and $200M compensation
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier and Minister Parrott defended the agreement, arguing it delivers a subsea industry, life-of-project benefits, apprenticeship targets and far more fabrication (24,400 tons vs. the Liberals' 5,000), and accused the previous Liberal government of giving away the entire project in 2018.
Redactions and transparency in the Bay du Nord agreement
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by L. Parrott
Minister Parrott said the redactions protect legal and financial liability and the confidentiality of contract partners, and countered that the former Liberal government released nothing over the past decade.
Churchill Falls MOU review, delay and Premier's position
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier declined to state his personal view of the MOU, saying he believes in the people of NL and that the independent review will be made public and tabled in the House on May 19; Minister Parrott said many files have moved forward and defended replacing a biased panel member.
Bay du Nord topside work and NL worker capability
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by L. Parrott
Minister Parrott dismissed the former premier's advisor's advice and cited Trades NL support, claiming the deal secured far more person-hours, apprenticeship targets, first oil, fabrication and expenditures than the previous agreement.
Undisclosed Churchill Falls advisor (former Williams-era minister)
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier confirmed a former Danny Williams-era Cabinet minister was appointed to advise on the MOU but did not name the person or disclose the pay; Minister Parrott deflected by attacking the previous government's transparency record.
Long-term care and home care for seniors with dementia
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by C. Pardy
Minister Pardy said construction of personal care and long-term care homes is planned and ongoing to address an inherited undercapacity, but that building the structures takes time.
Urgent out-of-province surgery for dying patient classified as dental
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Evans
Minister Evans said if it is a simple policy causing undue harm they will look into it, but stressed she must enact change for everyone rather than a single individual.
Labrador health transportation and medevac disputes with Premier
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Evans
Minister Evans said she was taken out of context, insisted she will not let medevac services be eroded in Southern and Northern Labrador, and stated the Premier is her biggest supporter, blaming the previous Liberal government for cutting medevac service.
Special House debate on Churchill Falls MOU review report
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier did not commit to a special debate, saying the new independent review report will be released May 19 and presented to the House of Assembly, and criticized the previous handling of the MOU.
Cost of living and oil company windfall profits
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by C. Pardy
Minister Pardy pointed to $226 million in affordability measures in the recent budget, acknowledged an affordability crisis driven by oil prices, and said the government would monitor the situation and provide more support in due course.
UNDRIP legislation and combating hate against Indigenous peoples
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by L. Evans
Minister Evans did not commit to specific legislation or a hate crimes unit, but said the government is working on the Calls for Justice and emphasized addressing underlying inequities such as housing, food and education as the path to reconciliation.
Orders of the Day
Bill 9 - An Act to Amend the Future Fund Act (Committee of the Whole)
Multiple
In Committee of the Whole, members debated clause 6 (repeal of the Act's regulation-making section) with the Member for Mount Scio and other Opposition members arguing it was short-sighted to stop depositing non-renewable resource royalties and remove flexibility, while the Minister of Finance defended the change as avoiding borrowing to fund a savings account, prioritizing sinking funds and debt reduction; clauses carried and the bill was reported with amendment.
Bill 9 - Third reading and division
L. Parrott
The amendment was read a first and second time, and Bill 9 was moved for third reading; a division was called and recorded, with the bill passing 22 ayes to 16 nays.
Budget 2026 debate - Municipal Capital Works and Mount Pearl
L. Stoyles
The Member for Mount Pearl North criticized a $1.2 million cut to Mount Pearl in the multi-year municipal capital works program and lack of consultation, praised the city's history and services, and raised a constituent's urgent health care case.
Budget 2026 debate - Reform of Municipal Capital Works program
B. Petten
The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure defended the overhaul of the municipal capital works program, explaining it now uses a per-capita formula ($233 per person) for the seven largest municipalities and doubles Municipal Capital Works funding, acknowledging Mount Pearl's decrease resulted from correcting a long-standing imbalance and offering to meet with affected municipalities.
Budget 2026 debate - Health care in Burin - Grand Bank
P. Pike
The Member for Burin - Grand Bank objected to being labelled a 'fool,' then raised rural health care concerns including recruitment challenges, cuts to public health nursing and lab/X-ray services in St. Lawrence, long-term care wait-lists, housing for recruited nurses, unfulfilled staffing promises, the promised MRI machine and the Grand Bank RCMP detachment.
Budget 2026 debate - Third Party critique
J. Dinn
The Leader of the Third Party called Budget 2026 disappointing, urging more non-market community-based housing, rent control, anti-eviction measures, affordability action, investment in education and childcare recruitment/retention, restoration of post-secondary funding, and a transition to a diversified renewable economy.
Adjournment of debate and House
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved to adjourn debate and then to adjourn the House, both carried, with the House adjourning until Wednesday, May 6 at 10 a.m. and the Resource Committee to meet at 6 p.m.
Other business
Point of order, privilege and contempt regarding photography in parliamentary precinct
J. Hogan
The Leader of the Official Opposition raised a combined point of order, privilege and contempt over an email from the Speaker stating some caucuses had violated protocols on photography/videography for partisan purposes and had not complied with removal requests, arguing the rules must be enforced equally or be treated as no longer applying.
Government House Leader response on photography point
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader agreed pictures had been taken on both sides, said the matter would be bottomed out internally, raised concerns about cellphone use in the Chamber and stated everyone could do better, leaving it to the Speaker to rule.
Speaker takes matter under advisement and welcomes guests
The Speaker
The Speaker took the matter under advisement for a later ruling and welcomed guests from the Gander International Heritage Lounge Foundation and Leo Cose and family.
Point of order on 'bunch of fools' remark
J. Korab
The Member for Waterford Valley raised Standing Order 49, alleging the Minister of Energy and Mines called Opposition members a 'bunch of fools' during Question Period and asked for a retraction; the minister quoted a dictionary definition and stood by his words, and the Speaker took it under advisement.
Point of order on offensive language / 'not the Premier' remarks
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader raised a point of order under Standing Order 49, objecting that the Member for Waterford Valley repeatedly said 'this is not the Premier'; the Opposition Leader clarified the comment referred to a different minister answering rather than questioning the Premier's legitimacy, and the Speaker took it under advisement while urging better decorum.
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.