Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, Tuesday 26 May 2026
Question Period was dominated by an extended exchange over the government's independent review of the Churchill Falls/Gull Island MOU, with the Official Opposition pressing the Premier and Energy Minister on the unnamed experts behind the review, pricing calculations, and details of any new deal, while the government repeatedly deflected by attacking the former Liberal government's MOU and its 2 per cent escalation clause. Other topics included the MyChart health app releasing results before physician review, delays to the Bull Arm floating dry dock, school bus stop-arm ticketing, ferry procurement commitments, and repeated questioning on nurse staffing shortages and safe staffing legislation. A point of order was raised over the Energy Minister's claim that the former government told experts to mislead the House, which the minister ultimately withdrew. The House welcomed guests including organizers of the Canadian Open 5 Pin Bowling Championships and student athletes from St. Joseph's Academy. Members delivered statements recognizing graduates, athletes, volunteers and local artists, while ministers highlighted summer road safety and a Bombardier industrial benefits milestone. The bulk of substantive business was the second reading and Committee passage of two income tax bills (Bill 16 and Bill 17), followed by resumed budget debate led by the Member for Gander.
Members' Statements
Graduating students in Burgeo - La Poile
M. King
The Member congratulated graduating students across his district, naming schools in Port aux Basques, Burgeo, Burnt Islands and Ramea, and asked all Members to wish them success.
St. Joseph's Academy student athletes
P. Pike
The Member recognized student athletes from the small 1A-designated St. Joseph's Academy in Lamaline who won four provincial championships in the 2025-2026 school year, naming the players and coaches in the gallery.
2026 Fire and Emergency Services Training School
J. Dwyer
The Member recognized the training school hosted by the Marystown Volunteer Fire Department, noting over 360 registrants across 23 courses and that it was the first time since 2012 held on the Burin Peninsula.
Stephenville Crossing Recreation Committee
H. Cormier
The Member recognized the volunteer-run recreation committee for organizing year-round sports and community events and maintaining the outdoor rink, contributing to a close-knit community.
Canadian Open 5 Pin Bowling Championships
J. Dinn
The Member noted that 240 elite bowlers and 140 supporters will arrive in St. John's for the June championships at Plaza Bowl, thanking the organizing committee and encouraging public attendance.
Glen and Roselle Doyle of Avondale
H. Conway Ottenheimer
By leave and outside the normal rotation, the Member recognized two artistic residents of Harbour Main: novelist Glen Doyle and self-taught artist and former professional figure skater Roselle Doyle.
Routine Proceedings
Summer road safety statement
M. Goosney
The Minister of Government Services urged motorists and off-road vehicle users to prioritize safety over the summer, listing rules such as no impaired or distracted driving, seatbelt use and moose awareness. Opposition members S. Stoodley and S. O'Leary echoed the message, thanking advocates like MADD Canada and reminding drivers to protect roadside workers.
Bombardier Industrial Benefits Agreement / CoLab AI
L. Paddock
The Minister of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development highlighted progress on the 2009 Bombardier Industrial Benefits Agreement, announcing that St. John's-based CoLab AI secured a multi-year, multi-million-dollar deal with Bombardier and noting enhanced aerospace training at CNA. B. Davis and S. O'Leary congratulated CoLab AI, with O'Leary urging guardrails around AI use.
Notice of motion re: extended sitting
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader gave notice under Standing Order 11(1) that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Petition on home care worker wage parity
S. Gambin-Walsh
The Member presented a petition urging government to eliminate the wage disparity between self-managed and agency-based home care workers and establish a timeline for wage parity.
Petition to protect 34 Battery Road heritage property
S. O'Leary
The Member tabled a petition urging government to declare the historic 34 Battery Road property in Limeville a provincial historic site to protect it from proposed subdivision development, calling for updates to the Historic Resources Act.
Petition on Frenchman's Cove road repairs
P. Pike
The Member presented a petition urging government to assess, repair and pave roads in Frenchman's Cove and meet with the community council, citing safety and tourism concerns.
Question Period
Identity and qualifications of experts behind the independent MOU review
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier refused to address the identity of the experts, instead repeatedly attacking the Liberal MOU and its 2 per cent escalation clause and asserting the review was independent, committing only to negotiate a new deal with more power, transmission and value.
Which panellist is an expert on electricity pricing and use of nominal vs NPV values
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by L. Parrott
The Energy Minister did not name any pricing expert, instead accusing the former government of failing to do an economic plan, signing a costly 2 per cent escalation, and overinflating figures.
Whether the Premier and ministers knew about the 2 per cent escalation clause
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier and Energy Minister avoided directly answering, instead blaming the former Liberal government for inserting the escalation clause against its own advisors and hiding it, and pledging to fix the flawed MOU.
Levelized cost discrepancy (7.9 cents vs 2.7 cents) and mining growth figures
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by L. Parrott
The Energy Minister declined to reconcile the figures or provide calculations for the 145 per cent Quebec mining growth claim, saying the data is publicly available and that the government will not negotiate a better deal in public.
Commitments on the new deal — Gull Island payments, minority shareholder rights, and who pays for transmission
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by L. Parrott
The Premier and Energy Minister made no specific commitments, saying details on Gull Island, shareholder rights and transmission costs would only be known after negotiations, and they would not negotiate in public.
Why the review panel did not meet with Hydro-Québec
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by L. Parrott
The Energy Minister defended the panel's mandate to assess the MOU as delivered, and turned the criticism back on the former government for not sitting with Quebec to obtain its numbers.
Government acceptance of not knowing experts, pricing methodology, contract length and equity allocation
Asked by J. Hogan · Answered by Premier Wakeham
The Premier did not address the concerns about unknown information, reiterating that the MOU lacked an economic plan and again asking the Opposition to concede the 2 per cent escalation clause was wrong.
MyChart health app releasing devastating medical results before physician review
Asked by S. Gambin-Walsh · Answered by L. Evans
The Health Minister acknowledged concerns about patients viewing troubling reports without support, advised consulting doctors or family before reviewing, and said the app is being reviewed with NL Health Services while defending its benefits.
Timeline for the Bull Arm floating dry dock and risk of losing defence contracts and jobs
Asked by B. Davis · Answered by L. Parrott
The Energy Minister said the government regularly consults Trades NL, Equinor and BP, that the FEED tender is out and moving faster than expected, and that it will be ready to build once the project is approved.
No tickets issued for illegally passing school buses in first half of school year
Asked by S. Stoodley · Answered by M. Goosney
The Minister of Government Services said he would not take knee-jerk reactions and would roll out the program properly and efficiently with public safety in mind, without addressing the lack of contingency during the mail strike.
Swing vessel RFP not awarded and alleged broken election promise
Asked by J. Korab · Answered by B. Petten
The Transportation Minister denied breaking the promise, insisting the government remains committed to procuring the swing vessel and new ferries whether built in province or sourced elsewhere.
Staffing shortage at Stavanger Drive urgent care clinic and meaning of 'easy way out'/culture change
Asked by J. Dinn · Answered by L. Evans
The Health Minister clarified she was pushing back on management suggestions to reduce clinic hours, committed to keeping and even extending hours, and cited recruitment and retention struggles, while accusing the questioner of a 'low blow' for suggesting she blamed workers.
Safe staffing legislation to protect nurses from unsafe workloads
Asked by S. O'Leary · Answered by L. Evans
The Health Minister did not commit to passing safe staffing legislation, describing instead investments in recruitment and retention and a new unionized travelling nurse locum working with the Nurses' Union to address vacancies.
Orders of the Day
Motion to extend sitting hours
L. Parrott
The Government House Leader moved under Standing Order 11(1) that the House not adjourn at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26; the motion was carried.
Bill 16 - An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, 2000 (second reading)
C. Pardy
The Minister of Finance moved second reading, outlining Budget 2026 tax measures: raising the basic personal amount to $15,000 effective July 1, doubling the volunteer firefighter and search and rescue tax credits from $3,000 to $6,000, and phasing down the small business corporate income tax rate to 1% by 2028.
Bill 16 debate - Opposition and Third Party responses
Multiple
Members B. Davis, S. Stoodley, P. Parsons, E. Loveless, J. Dinn and E. Joyce spoke in support of Bill 16 while arguing it does not go far enough, noting the change amounts to about $28/month, excludes the most vulnerable earners, and calling for additional levers such as removing HST/tax off electricity, further gas tax cuts, and other supports; several detailed the actual value of the tax credits and praised volunteer firefighters and search and rescue members.
Bill 16 - Minister's closing and Committee passage
C. Pardy
The Minister closed debate, defending the targeted approach and noting other budget measures ($106 million total in tax relief, seniors' benefit, child benefit expansion). The bill passed second reading, was considered in Committee of the Whole where the Minister confirmed the cost as $104 million and explained the July 1 effective date given the government's late-2025 swearing-in, and was reported without amendment.
Bill 17 - An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, 2000 No. 2 (second reading)
C. Pardy
The Minister moved second reading of technical amendments, including extending the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit for six months after a child's death, prorating the green technology tax credit for short taxation years, allowing transfer of manufacturing/green tax credits to successor corporations, and applying a three-year refund limitation to the film and video industry tax credit to harmonize with federal practice.
Bill 17 debate and Committee passage
Multiple
Members S. Stoodley, S. O'Leary and S. Gambin-Walsh supported the largely technical bill, with commentary on the green economy, arts and film industry support and family benefits. In Committee, B. Davis and S. O'Leary asked about green technology and film tax credit uptake (none claimed for green tech; film credits estimated at $11 million for 2026-27); the bill passed and was reported without amendment.
Budget debate (Motion 1) - subamendment
B. Ford
The Member for Gander spoke to the budget, recounting her history of constituency engagement and sharing constituent stories about a senior scammed of $50,000, seniors struggling to age at home, families facing home care costs, young families concerned about tax relief, daycare costs, class sizes and the cost of children's sports and recreation, urging government to consider these financial impacts. Debate was then adjourned and the House recessed until 6:30.
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.