Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Monday 25 May 2026
Question Period was dominated by the Churchill River/Hydro-Québec negotiations, with the Official Opposition pressing the Premier and Finance Minister repeatedly on the status of talks, a promised referendum, the negotiating team timeline, and the identities and qualifications of experts behind the Independent Review Committee report. The government deflected by attacking the previous Liberal government over a 2 per cent escalator clause in the original MOU and disputing valuation figures. Other topics included a failed swing vessel ferry RFP, health care access and staffing shortages in St. John's, and the government's commitments on intimate partner violence. The Speaker opened by naming and ordering the withdrawal of the Members for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune (Loveless) and Terra Nova (Parrott) for unparliamentary conduct related to a confrontation on May 21, and ruled that a social media point of privilege raised against the Member for Lake Melville did not constitute a prima facie breach. Members' statements paid tribute to community figures including the late Marina Redmond, and ministers recognized Innu nurse Mary Pia Benuen and the growth of North Atlantic. In routine proceedings, Estimates committee reports were presented, several notices of motion were given (including sitting extensions and Bill 19), and petitions were heard on road grading, home care wages and AI in government projects. The House then considered and passed Bill 15 (the loan bill authorizing borrowing up to $3.9 billion) and continued budget subamendment debate.
Members' Statements
Tribute to the late Marina Redmond
J. Parsons
The Member for Corner Brook paid tribute to the late Marina Redmond, who received a Premier's Medal and served the City of Corner Brook for 27 years as a public servant, athlete and community builder who introduced pickleball and had a recreation centre named in her honour.
Templeton Academy Grade 6 class national win
E. Joyce
The Member for Humber - Bay of Islands recognized Nicole Lovell's Grade 6 class at Templeton Academy in Meadows as the 2026 national winners of Agriculture in the Classroom Canada's Mission Explorium challenge.
Menihek High School graduates
J. Power
The Member for Labrador West congratulated the 102 students who graduated from Menihek High School in Labrador West, encouraging them to dream big and celebrate their achievements.
Tribute to volunteer Barbara McGowan
K. Russell
The Member for Lake Melville recognized Barbara McGowan, an almost 79-year-old Labrador woman who has volunteered for nearly 45 years, including with the Labrador Friendship Centre and its food bank.
Twillingate/New World Island Fish, Fun & Folk Festival
M. Butt
The Member for Lewisporte - Twillingate celebrated the 44th year of the Twillingate/New World Island Fish, Fun & Folk Festival, commending the organizers, volunteers and sponsors.
Tribute to the late veteran Johnny Pauls
J. Hogan
By leave, the Member for Windsor Lake honoured the late Johnny Pauls, a Second World War veteran and long-time Royal Canadian Legion advocate from Spaniard's Bay; the House observed a moment of silence.
Routine Proceedings
Statement recognizing Mary Pia Benuen
L. Evans
The Minister of Labrador Affairs recognized Mary Pia Benuen, Labrador's first accredited Innu nurse, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws from Memorial University; the Member for Placentia - St. Mary's and the Leader of the Third Party responded, with the latter calling for increased educational investment for Indigenous youth.
Statement on North Atlantic headquarters opening
L. Paddock
The Minister of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development acknowledged the opening of North Atlantic's new headquarters and its growth from 130 to nearly 500 employees; the Member for Conception Bay East - Bell Island and the Leader of the Third Party responded, the latter calling for card-check certification and anti-scab labour legislation.
Standing Committee Estimates reports
Multiple
The Government Services Committee (Dwyer), Social Services Committee (Power) and Resource Committee (Butt) reported that they had considered and passed without amendment the Estimates of their respective departments and recommended the reports be concurred in.
Notices of motion and bill introduction
J. Wall
The Deputy Government House Leader gave notice of motions that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on May 25, that private Member's day on May 27 be replaced with government business, that the sitting be extended beyond May 28, and to introduce Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Pharmaceutical Services Act.
Petition on grading Atlantic Charter Road
S. Gambin-Walsh
The Member for Placentia - St. Mary's presented a petition urging that the Atlantic Charter Road in Ship Harbour, leading to a national historic site, be graded and made safely passable no later than June each year for tourism and accessibility.
Petition on self-managed home care worker wages
J. Dinn
The Leader of the Third Party presented a petition seeking wage parity for self-managed home care and respite workers with agency-based workers; the Minister of Finance replied that the budget increases their pay by $2 per hour effective July 1 when the budget is passed.
Petition on using real artists over AI
S. O'Leary
The Member for St. John's East - Quidi Vidi tabled a petition, signed by film industry workers, urging government to commit to using real artists for all government media, marketing and communications rather than AI.
Question Period
Churchill River negotiations, delays, referendum, and negotiating team timeline
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier declined to confirm a referendum or timelines, insisting the priority is securing a better deal with more transmission, more power and more value than the original MOU, which he said contained a costly 2 per cent escalator clause. He confirmed only one call had occurred between Hydro-Québec's president and the province's chief negotiator and repeatedly pressed Hogan on why the Liberals included the escalator clause.
Identities and qualifications of experts relied on in the Independent Review Committee report
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier said he was not privy to who the independent committee consulted, stressing the committee was truly independent and received over 350 submissions, and refused to name the advisors. He redirected to criticizing the previous government's MOU for ignoring economic value and its own negotiators.
Naming the experts/consultants relied on by the panel (Finance Minister)
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by C. Pardy
The Finance Minister named three experts (the CEO of NL Hydro and Guy Holburn among them) and said Newfoundlanders can take comfort experts were involved, but declined to name who those experts in turn consulted, arguing it wasn't necessary. He pivoted to disputing the Opposition's $225 billion valuation versus the report's roughly $30.8 billion figure.
Whether a future Hydro-Québec deal will feature Schedule F pricing, shorter contract, and wheeling rights per the report
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier would not confirm specific contract terms, saying only that the province would have 'a better deal,' and reiterated criticism of the previous MOU's valuation, contrasting the government's $227 billion figure with the report's approximately $31 billion net present value estimate.
Use of architects of the 1969 and Muskrat Falls deals as advisors, and compensation for lost revenue from delays
Asked by F. Hutton · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier defended the credentials of the appointed negotiating committee members. On lost revenue, the Finance Minister responded that the claimed $1.5 billion was not in the budget and disputed the Opposition's deficit projections.
Failure to award the swing vessel RFP for Fogo Island, Change Islands and Bell Island routes
Asked by J. Korab · Answered by B. Petten
The Minister said the bids were not compliant, but committed to securing a swing vessel by exploring options including using a broker, another bidder, or a government-led build.
Transportation support during temporary relocation of the Mundy Pond walk-in and newcomer health clinic, and staffing shortages at Stavanger Drive urgent care
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister acknowledged the relocation is causing problems and said the department is looking into supports for patients without vehicles, hoping to have solutions shortly. On urgent care staffing, she acknowledged recruitment and retention issues province-wide and rejected proposals to reduce hours, pledging to maintain service.
Declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic and pre-conviction ankle monitoring legislation
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by L. Evans
The Minister did not commit to a timeline for declaring an epidemic or for tabling ankle monitoring legislation, instead emphasizing that the government is staffing up, resourcing, and working with stakeholders after eight months in office, and pledging to deliver on addressing gender-based violence.
Orders of the Day
Procedural motions (non-adjournment and Bill 15 referral)
J. Wall
The Deputy Government House Leader moved that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on May 25, and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole on Ways and Means to consider Bill 15; both motions carried.
Committee of the Whole on Bill 15 (loan bill)
C. Pardy
The Minister of Finance introduced Bill 15 authorizing borrowing up to $3.9 billion for 2026-27, detailing the borrowing program including infrastructure, health services line of credit, pension payments and deficit financing, and highlighted sinking funds and reduced debt-to-GDP. Members from Mount Scio, Virginia Waters - Pleasantville, St. John's East - Quidi Vidi and Humber - Bay of Islands spoke in support while raising Churchill Falls, the Future Fund, early childhood educators and West Coast health care.
Passage of Bill 15 through remaining stages
Multiple
The Committee passed the resolution, clauses and title of Bill 15 without amendment and reported it; the resolution was read first and second time, and Bill 15 was introduced and read a first, second and third time, ordered passed as An Act to Authorize the Raising of Money by Way of Loan by the Province.
Budget subamendment debate
Multiple
Members continued debate on the budget subamendment (Motion 1). B. Davis discussed the oil price forecast, Future Fund, health care/new hospital and education gaps; S. Gambin-Walsh raised road infrastructure, health care, policing, addictions and intimate partner violence; M. King focused on rural roads, health care and the MOU; S. O'Leary spoke on tourism, culture, arts and heritage sustainability; E. Joyce detailed the Churchill Falls oversight panel and changes to its terms of reference; and J. Korab described his Waterford Valley district and referenced police, education and childcare concerns. Debate was adjourned and the House recessed.
Other business
Naming of Members for unparliamentary conduct
The Speaker (Lane)
The Speaker addressed a further confrontation between the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune and the Member for Terra Nova on May 21, and under Standing Orders 7(1), 49 and 21 named Elvis Loveless and Lloyd Parrott, ordering them to withdraw from the Chamber for the remainder of the day.
Ruling on point of privilege re social media post (Member for Lake Melville)
The Speaker
The Speaker ruled on a privilege point raised by the Member for Mount Scio regarding a social media post shared by the Member for Lake Melville that used crude language suggesting violence against Members; the Speaker found no prima facie breach because the post was outside a proceeding of Parliament, while reminding Members of their responsibility to uphold the institution's dignity.
Point of order on anti-harassment legislation
S. O'Leary
S. O'Leary rose to commend the Speaker's action and request the House consider mandatory anti-harassment legislation, tabling a document; the Speaker and Deputy Government House Leader ruled it was not a valid point of order and directed the matter to be raised elsewhere.
Gallery introduction
The Speaker
The Speaker welcomed Paul and Emma White, husband and daughter of the late Marina Redmond, who was the subject of a Member's statement.
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.