Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Thursday 21 May 2026
Question Period was dominated by the Churchill Falls MOU and the government's independent review panel, with Opposition members pressing the Premier on why panellists won't speak publicly, whether he will maintain his prior negotiating positions (on exclusivity, ownership and control), and his referendum commitment. The Premier and Energy Minister repeatedly deflected by attacking the former Liberal government for approving a flawed MOU with a 2 per cent escalation clause. Other topics included a patient's delayed lockjaw surgery, early childhood educator benefits and education funding, the food fishery on the south and west coasts, and the appointment of a Conservative donor to the Access to Information review. The sitting was marked by extensive procedural disputes over parliamentary conduct and social media use, including an alleged contempt of the House raised by the Leader of the Official Opposition over a video clip of unparliamentary comments posted online. Members delivered statements honouring volunteer firefighters, athletes and the Mount Pearl Kinsmen Club, and the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs updated the House on the Special Assistance Grant Program. Petitions were presented on Route 220 repairs, teaching Black history and school busing, and much of Orders of the Day focused on debate of a subamendment to the budget non-confidence motion, dominated by the Churchill River MOU and its independent review report, along with multiple points of order and privilege.
Members' Statements
Change Islands volunteer fire department and first responders
J. McKenna
The Member for Fogo Island - Cape Freels recognized the volunteer fire department and Firettes of Change Islands, honouring long-serving members at the 53rd annual Fireman's Ball, including one with 50 years of service.
Bay d'Espoir Academy Senior Boys Varsity Basketball Team
E. Loveless
The Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune congratulated the team on winning back-to-back provincial championships and recognized MVP Noah Willcott and Dixon Stoodley along with their coaches.
Dawson Mercer selected for Team Canada
P. Parsons
The Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave congratulated Bay Roberts native Dawson Mercer on being selected to represent Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship and praised his contributions to local hockey.
Mount Pearl Kinsmen Club 60th anniversary
L. Stoyles
The Member for Mount Pearl North recognized the Mount Pearl Kinsmen Club for 60 years of community service, highlighting their contributions to sports, charity and the Air Cadet Program.
Routine Proceedings
Special Assistance Grant Program update (Ministerial Statement)
C. Tibbs
The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs updated the House on the Special Assistance Grant Program, noting nearly 190 applications last year and over $200 million in Budget 2026 funding for municipal initiatives; opposition members responded urging the program become a stable, long-term funding pillar and that municipalities remain chronically underfunded.
Notices of Motion regarding sitting hours
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader gave notice of several motions that the House not adjourn at its scheduled times on May 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2026, to continue Government Business.
Petition on repairs and paving of Route 220
P. Pike
The Member for Burin - Grand Bank presented a petition urging government to increase its road budget and repair and repave a deteriorated section of Route 220 (Phase 4) on the Burin Peninsula, citing safety and vehicle damage concerns.
Petition to teach and celebrate Black history
J. Dinn
The Leader of the Third Party presented a petition calling on the House to amend the school curriculum to include Black history and celebrate Black History Month; the Minister of Education thanked him and committed to considering it during curriculum reviews.
Petition on school transportation for after-school care destinations
B. Ford
The Member for Gander presented a petition urging the departments of Transportation and Education to update school busing policies to account for children's after-school care destinations, including a request to add Gander to the 2026 advance registration pilot; the Minister of Education noted his work with TI and the pilot project addressing child care busing.
Question Period
Review panel members not speaking publicly and transparency of the report
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier refused to explain the shifting rationale, instead attacking the former government for approving a flawed MOU with a 2 per cent escalation clause and citing report flaws (page 21) without addressing why panellists or the unnamed experts cannot speak.
Whether the Premier will maintain his prior positions on exclusivity, control and ownership of Churchill projects/Gull Island in any new deal
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier would not confirm his earlier stated positions, saying only that NL will not be bound to a single buyer and that government will pursue an economic benefit analysis and develop its own industries; the Energy Minister added government won't negotiate publicly and accused the Liberals of trying to give away the Upper Churchill.
Referendum commitment on a Churchill Falls deal
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier did not commit to a referendum, saying getting a deal for the province was the first priority and again criticizing the former government's MOU.
Credit for advancing the project federally as a nation-building project
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier declined to credit the Liberals, reiterating the previous government was prepared to give the river to Quebec and guaranteeing his government will secure more value, transmission and development.
Delayed lifesaving surgery for a patient suffering from lockjaw
Asked by L. Stoyles · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister of Health said the department is aware, has reached out to and is supporting the patient, and committed to helping the patient navigate the multiple layers of the system so she will be looked after.
Status of early childhood educator steering committee and improvements to ECE compensation and benefits
Asked by P. Pike · Answered by P. Dinn
The Minister of Education said the steering committee's applicants have been assessed and names recommended, with the committee to be established in the coming weeks; he defended not including ECE wages in the budget, citing a blue book commitment to address pensions and wages after consulting the sector.
Education funding and unmet blue book commitments (school meals, teachers, class sizes, psychologists)
Asked by P. Pike · Answered by P. Dinn
The minister pointed to $1.5 billion for education, $400 million for Memorial University and $32.6 million for child care continuation, but his answer was cut off before detailing the other commitments.
Government's plan for federal involvement in Churchill projects if the Parti Québécois wins the Quebec election
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier did not offer a specific plan, saying only that he stands up for Newfoundland and Labrador and will ensure the flawed MOU does not happen.
What Jerome Kennedy has been doing since being hired four months ago and negotiation transparency
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier praised Kennedy and said he would not validate his work, offering no cost or scope details, and pivoted to questioning whether the member voted for the MOU's escalation clause.
Contradiction over whether Danny Williams killed the MOU
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by L. Parrott
The Energy Minister did not address the contradiction, saying government surrounded itself with the best people and accusing the Liberals of trying to give away the province again.
Support for south and west coast residents excluded from the seven-day-a-week food fishery
Asked by M. King · Answered by L. O'Driscoll
The Minister of Fisheries said he has met the federal minister three times, that some changes were made this year, and committed to sending a letter seeking further changes so West Coast residents can fish seven days a week; the Energy Minister used part of the exchange to defend Muskrat Falls.
Whether Danny Williams' original Gull Island-first strategy contradicts the Muskrat Falls sequencing
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by L. O'Driscoll
The question was fielded by the Fisheries Minister who spoke about the food fishery rather than the substance of the hydro sequencing question.
Appointment of Conservative donor Keri-Lynn Power to lead the Access to Information Review
Asked by P. Parsons · Answered by L. Parrott
The Energy Minister did not defend the appointment, instead attacking a Liberal donor (Chris Hickman) for $237,000 in donations and alleged contract benefits.
Why the PC caucus did not vote against the MOU it now calls flawed
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier said he called from the outset for an independent review and independent experts that were refused, and turned the question back on the member for supporting a flawed MOU.
Discrepancy over post-2041 power availability (500 vs 860 megawatts) in the review report
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by L. Parrott
The Energy Minister did not explain the discrepancy, saying the members supported the MOU and that even with that power the province lacks enough to develop Labrador, so government will pursue more power.
Whether the review committee was a justification to develop Gull Island alone and risk another Muskrat Falls
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by L. Parrott
The minister denied the framing, called Gull Island the best undeveloped resource in North America, and stated government intends to develop Labrador to serve mining projects, criticizing the Opposition's records.
Which lawyers advised the panellists not to speak publicly
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier did not name the lawyers, redirecting to the MOU's 2 per cent escalation clause and asking why the member's party supported it.
Orders of the Day
Budget debate subamendment - Churchill River MOU and government promises
S. Stoodley
The Member for Mount Scio spoke on the budget, defending the Liberal government's Churchill Falls MOU against comparisons to the 1969 deal, criticizing the secrecy of the new Churchill River Independent Review Committee report, and moved a subamendment faulting the PC government for failing to deliver on promises regarding early childhood educators, K-12 education, snow clearing, Bay du Nord topside work, an MRI for the Burin Peninsula, tax credits and transparency; she also raised gas pricing, speed/school bus cameras and St. Clare's Hospital.
Point of order and apology regarding remarks about the Premier
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader raised a point of order after the Member for Mount Scio referred to the Premier's 'angry old man face'; after extended exchanges the Member apologized unequivocally, and the Speaker removed speaking privileges for the day from the Government House Leader and the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune for their conduct.
Budget debate - defence of PC positions on MOU, gas and firefighters
J. Dwyer
The Member for Placentia West - Bellevue rebutted the previous speaker, defended the PC decision not to vote for the MOU, commended budget measures including regional fire service, doubled firefighter benefits, ambulance upskilling, brush cutting, water and sewer, economic development and the fishery, and recounted the Truxtun and Pollux disaster and Lanier Phillips legacy on the Burin Peninsula.
Budget debate - inclusive education and school violence
J. Dinn
The Leader of the Third Party spoke on the failure to support the K-12 education system, citing the NLTA 'Wear Red for Ed' campaign, insufficient teaching units and social work funding, recruitment and retention challenges, chronic under-resourcing, school violence, a New Brunswick labour ruling on inclusive education, and unsafe conditions such as vermin infestations in schools.
Budget debate - Churchill River review transparency and referendum promise
J. Hogan
The Leader of the Official Opposition contrasted the open, four-day 2025 MOU debate with the secrecy of the current Churchill River Independent Review Committee, noting the panel's refusal to speak publicly despite the review being a public inquiry, questioning anonymous sources, and pressing the Premier to be transparent and honour his campaign promise of a referendum on any Churchill River deal.
Budget debate - reading of the independent review and municipal infrastructure
J. Parsons
The Member for Corner Brook argued the independent review was not a call to scrap the MOU but a series of proposed changes acknowledging its benefits, and criticized the government's wholesale changes to Multi-Year Capital Works, urging the minister to take a case-by-case approach and address the funding gap for smaller municipalities.
Budget debate - defence of walkout, MOU stance and Multi-Year Capital Works reform
B. Petten
The Deputy Premier defended the PC decision to leave the House rather than vote on the MOU, described behind-the-scenes negotiations, lamented the acrimony and social media conduct in the House, and defended reforming the Multi-Year Capital Works program from 22 back toward the originally intended larger municipalities as a smarter spending decision.
Point of privilege regarding social media post about Liberal MHAs
S. Stoodley
The Member for Mount Scio raised a point of privilege over a social media post shared by the Member for Lake Melville about Liberal MHAs deserving a 'good shit knocking', alleging incitement of violence and intimidation; the Member for Lake Melville said he shared it as humour and quickly took it down, and the Speaker reserved his ruling while again urging the matter be considered by the Privileges and Elections Committee.
Adjournment of debate and of the House
J. Wall
The Deputy Government House Leader moved to adjourn debate on Motion 1 and to adjourn the House; the Speaker reminded members of upcoming Estimates committee meetings and adjourned the House until Monday, May 25, 2026.
Other business
Alleged contempt of the House over online posting of unparliamentary comments
J. Hogan
The Leader of the Official Opposition raised a contempt issue over the Minister of Energy posting online a video clip containing comments the Speaker had ruled unparliamentary, citing House broadcast copyright and privacy guidelines; the Government House Leader argued this is a broad free-speech issue affecting all members, and the Speaker reserved judgment and cautioned members on social media use.
Point of order on use of 'misleading' during Question Period
S. Stoodley
The Member for Mount Scio raised a point of order asking the Minister of Energy and Mines to withdraw referring to the Opposition House Leader as misleading the public; the Government House Leader defended the term and the Speaker reserved his ruling pending review of tapes and Hansard.
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.