Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Thursday 7 May 2026
Question Period was dominated by the Opposition's scrutiny of the Premier's appointment of Jerome Kennedy and Bern Coffey to review the Churchill Falls/Gull Island MOU, with repeated demands for transparency on their qualifications, pay and the status of the deal. Other themes included Labrador issues (air access subsidies, court closures in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Wabush, and IOC mine cuts), rising violent crime and policing resources, tourism affordability amid high fuel prices, and NDP questions on housing, social assistance and RNC workplace mental health supports. Ministers largely defended the budget and government record while accusing the Opposition of misinformation and pointing to their 10 years in power. The sitting opened with two competing points of order under Standing Order 49 regarding unparliamentary language exchanged during the previous day's Question Period, both taken under advisement by the Speaker. Members delivered statements honouring community members and organizations, ministers made statements on the 2026 Census, Arts and Letters Awards, and Emergency Preparedness Week, and various documents and petitions were tabled. In Orders of the Day, the House passed Bill 12 (Children's Law Act/Family Law Act amendments) through Committee and third reading, passed Bill 10 at third reading, and began budget debate on Motion 1, which was met with an Opposition amendment faulting the government on its promises.
Members' Statements
Crescent Collegiate 2026 graduating class
J. Dwyer
The Member for Placentia West - Bellevue congratulated the 2026 graduating class of Crescent Collegiate in Blaketown, noting the class also mourned the passing of classmate Miley George.
Recognition of Bernie Schabell
S. Gambin-Walsh
The Member for Placentia - St. Mary's honoured Bernie Schabell of Jerseyside for decades of community volunteer service, including over 50 years with blood services and multiple awards.
Andrew Jesso Foundation
H. Cormier
The Member for St. George's - Humber recognized the Andrew Jesso Foundation, established in memory of a young man lost in 2022, for removing financial barriers so children can experience skiing and snowboarding.
NewfoundSand Glass Recycling Co-operative
J. Dinn
The Member for St. John's Centre recognized NewfoundSand, a volunteer-run co-operative that turns waste glass into sand and aggregate, supported by the College of the North Atlantic.
Tribute to the late Frank Howard
K. White
The Member for St. John's West honoured the late Frank Howard, a business leader with Capital Auto Group, philanthropist and 2025 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame inductee.
Routine Proceedings
Ministerial statement on 2026 Census
C. Pardy
The Minister of Finance highlighted the launch of the 2026 Census and urged all residents to participate, noting its importance for funding formulas and planning. Opposition members (B. Davis, S. O'Leary) welcomed the census but criticized the government's use of data in budgeting decisions.
Ministerial statement on Arts and Letters Awards
A. Barbour
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts congratulated winners of the annual Art and Letters Awards, including Paul Whittle who won the Percy Janes First Novel Award. Opposition members (B. Ford, S. O'Leary) congratulated recipients and called on government to reinstate arts grant funding.
Ministerial statement on Emergency Preparedness Week
P. Forsey
The Minister of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands marked Emergency Preparedness Week, noting over $7 million in Budget 2026 for emergency services and encouraging residents to prepare. Opposition members (P. Parsons, J. Dinn) thanked first responders and raised concerns about growing pressures on emergency services and climate change.
Tabling of orders in council
C. Pardy
The Minister of Finance tabled three orders in council relating to funding precommitments for fiscal years 2026-27 to 2030-31 under the Financial Administration Act.
Answers to questions for which notice has been given
C. Pardy
The Minister of Finance used this section to argue that several Opposition members had made incorrect statements about cancelling the Future Fund, scrapping the Air Access Program, and broken promises. The Speaker indicated he would review how this procedural section is meant to operate, and L. Dempster rose to dispute being misquoted.
Petition to protect 34 Battery Road (Limeville)
S. O'Leary
The Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi tabled a petition urging government to declare a historic property at 34 Battery Road a Provincial Historic Site to protect it from a proposed subdivision development.
Petition on Labrador South Health Centre
L. Dempster
The Member for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair presented a petition urging government to prioritize returning doctor, X-ray and laboratory services to the Labrador South Health Centre, citing multiple service losses in 2026 and constituent stories.
Petition on drop-in blood collection services
L. Stoyles
The Member for Mount Pearl North presented a petition urging government to bring back drop-in blood collection services at least one day a week, noting seniors and people with disabilities struggle with the appointment-only booking system.
Question Period
Secret advisors reviewing the Churchill Falls MOU
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier said the advisors are reviewing the work of NL Hydro done prior to the MOU, not non-existent definitive agreements, and that an independent report will be released May 19. He denied hiding anything and countered by attacking Hutton's record as a minister.
Experience of Kennedy and Coffey and whether Danny Williams killed the deal
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by L. Parrott
Minister Parrott argued the advisors have more experience than Hutton and that Gull Island is only possible because Muskrat Falls was built. The Premier declined to say whether Williams was wrong, saying everyone is entitled to an opinion and touting the government's vision for the province.
Health Minister's comments and Labrador air access program cuts
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Evans
Minister Evans accused the Opposition of misinformation on air access figures, said the program was $3.5 million (not $6 million), and stated the pilot is continuing while government develops solutions to bring down travel costs. She did not answer the question on recruiting medical radiation technologists.
IOC mine cuts and electricity needs in Labrador West
Asked by L. Dempster · Answered by L. Parrott
Minister Parrott blamed the previous government's oversight for IOC's readjustment, said IOC will meet with government May 19, and asserted that IOC and other miners talk regularly with government and will have electricity when ready to build, criticizing the MOU as lacking foresight.
Sheriff's officers and court closures in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Wabush
Asked by P. Parsons · Answered by H. Conway Ottenheimer
The minister said court scheduling is within the courts' independent purview and touted budget investments modernizing the justice system, without guaranteeing against further closures. She refused to answer the HR/termination question, calling it inappropriate.
Premier's use of partisan advisors and missed MOU report deadline
Asked by E. Loveless · Answered by L. Parrott
Minister Parrott said the public voted the government in to deliver the right deal and that the best deal will be delivered. He noted the previous government signed the MOU but had zero definitive agreements, arguing their own panel said the work could not be done by April 30.
Rise in violent crime and adequacy of policing resources
Asked by K. White · Answered by H. Conway Ottenheimer
The minister said public safety is a priority and pointed to historic investments, including 21 new RNC officers and 25 new RCMP officers, and ongoing work with police leadership and legislative reform, without directly saying resources are sufficient.
Tourism affordability amid high fuel prices
Asked by B. Ford · Answered by A. Barbour / C. Pardy
Minister Barbour cited the blue book vision, lowest gas tax in Canada, small business tax cut and personal exemption. Finance Minister Pardy acknowledged fuel price pressures and said the Premier committed to keep an eye on affordability and address it in the near future.
Future of the ministerial committee on anti-racism
Asked by B. Davis · Answered by L. Paddock
Minister Paddock did not give a yes-or-no commitment, instead stating the government has zero tolerance for hate speech and is committed to ensuring everyone, including newcomers, feels safe and welcome.
Public housing funding and social assistance rates
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by J. Wall
Minister Wall said government is looking province-wide at various build types and could not give a per-unit cost. On social assistance, he said the department is reviewing income support levels and options, including basic income, and pointed to affordability plans in the budget.
Systemic issues and mental health supports at the RNC
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by H. Conway Ottenheimer
The minister said government is committed to a civilian-led oversight board and will introduce a new police act with stronger oversight in the fall. On mental health, she said officer wellness is a priority and she has had discussions with police leadership, but government cannot direct operations.
Orders of the Day
Bill 12 - Committee of the Whole
H. Conway Ottenheimer
The House considered Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Children's Law Act and the Family Law Act, in Committee. J. Dinn asked detailed questions about court duties, information sharing, affidavit evidence, relocation notice requirements and alignment with the federal Divorce Act, with the Minister of Justice responding. S. Gambin-Walsh thanked staff, and all clauses carried without amendment.
Bill 12 - Third reading
L. Parrott
The Committee reported Bill 12 without amendment, the report was received and adopted, and the bill was read a third time and ordered passed.
Bill 10 - Third reading
L. Parrott
Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, 2022, was read a third time, ordered passed with its title as on the Order Paper.
Budget debate (Motion 1)
Multiple
Members debated the budget motion. J. Korab criticized the budget on gas tax, snow clearing, health staffing, the cancelled hospital, and Multi-Year Capital Works changes affecting municipalities. S. Gambin-Walsh raised health care gaps, roads, home care wage inequities and thanked the Environment Minister for the St. Mary's sauce plant. E. Loveless raised long-term care beds, a senior's $12,000 medevac bill, and roads. E. Joyce discussed health care, housing and Crown lands in Corner Brook. M. King defended the cancelled National Marine Conservation Area feasibility study and rural development. L. Dempster discussed Labrador and the Air Access Program, corrected the record on MHA compensation, and moved an amendment.
Budget amendment
L. Dempster
The Member for Cartwright - L'Anse au Clair moved an amendment, seconded by the Member for Virginia Waters - Pleasantville, to fault the PC government for failing to deliver on promises of lower taxes, better health care and safer communities. The Speaker recessed, then ruled the amendment in order, and debate on the main motion was adjourned.
Other business
Points of order on unparliamentary language
Multiple
L. Dempster raised a point of order under SO 49 alleging the Minister of Energy and Mines implied the Opposition Leader was telling lies, and the Government House Leader (L. Parrott) responded and raised his own point of order alleging the Member for Windsor Lake questioned his credibility and integrity. The Speaker took both matters under advisement to review Hansard and precedent.
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.