November 3, 2026 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol. LI No. 45
Please be advised that this is a PARTIALLY EDITED portion of the House of Assembly sitting for Question Period on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The edited Hansard will be posted when it becomes available.
The entire audio/visual record of the House proceedings is available online within one hour of the House rising for the day. This can be accessed at: https://www.assembly.nl.ca/HouseBusiness/Webcast/archive.aspx
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
J. HOGAN: Thank you, Speaker.
The Premier is still refusing to debate the final agreements on Churchill Falls in this House, and, yesterday, the Premier referenced in Question Period, a section of his MOU claiming that there’s nothing left to be negotiated.
If the Premier kept reading, he would have made it to section 6.1, which says, “Nothing in this Agreement is intended, nor should it be construed to be legally binding on the Parties with respect to the matters set forth herein, except for Section 3.2 (Access), Article 4 (Additional Covenants), Article 5 (Dispute Resolution) and Article 6 ….” So only four sections are non-negotiable. That means dozens of sections are still up for negotiation.
Does the Premier understand that this means there are details left for him to negotiate? Or is he still insisting to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians there is nothing left to negotiate?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, let me take the opportunity to talk about what has been negotiated and the new and better deal that we have signed, the Churchill Falls agreement.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, one of the biggest things in that agreement that I’d point out is the previous deal that they voted for and campaigned on, had a total value of $225 billion. Our new deal has a total value of $273 billion.
That’s $48 billion more, Speaker – $48 billion more. I know the Member for Conception Bay East - Bell Island used to stand up all the time talking about $225 billion. Maybe he should talk about $273 billion.
SPEAKER: Order, please!
The Premier’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
J. HOGAN: It’s the Premier’s deal, it’s the Premier’s legacy and it’s his failure to answer questions, which is going to be what was remembered.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
J. HOGAN: Because the Premier’s MOU also says, if he read it, “Further, this Agreement is also not intended to, and does not purport to, summarize all the terms, conditions, and other provisions that would be contained in the Definitive Agreements, which Definitive Agreements shall be subject to negotiation ….” His deal literally says the final agreements are subject to negotiation.
Why does the Premier continue to insist that his non-binding deal is the same as 17 final deals which are yet to be negotiated? Has the Premier even read his own deal?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, our deal contains a significant number of material terms. Actually, if you look at the deal itself, in terms of comparison of the two, I think their document was something like 32 pages. Ours is 72, 40 more pages of certainty, Speaker –
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
SPEAKER: Order, please!
PREMIER WAKEHAM: Forty more pages for the benefits to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Let’s talk about –
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
SPEAKER: Order, please!
I’m not going down this road again today. Can we not have order in this hon. House?
The hon. the Premier.
PREMIER WAKEHAM: Thank you, Speaker.
Let’s talk about the $49 billion again. Imagine, $49 billion, what we can do with that. Imagine the people that will follow us in the House of Assembly from now. Speaker, $49 billion is enough to pay off the entire debt of Newfoundland and Labrador. That’s what future generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have to look forward to, having a debt paid off, not standing here with a $20-billion deficit.
SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. Premier’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
J. HOGAN: Speaker, the 70-odd pages that we voted on in this House of Assembly, will there be 70-odd pages as well in the final agreements or will it be something bigger? AS I’ve said there’s still a lot to be negotiated.
SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, let me keep going. Let’s talk about the 150 per cent price increase on the power that we can sell to Quebec. They have to buy it at 150 per cent of the price.
SPEAKER: I ask the Premier to take his seat.
L. STOYLES: (Inaudible.)
SPEAKER: I ask the Member for Mount Pearl North for your co-operation. I’m not going to ask again.
The hon. the Premier.
PREMIER WAKEHAM: Thank you, Speaker.
We have the optionality to decide whether we want to sell the power or keep it ourselves. Unfortunately, the deal that they voted yes to, there was no option for that. There was no power.
Speaker, they continued to say yes to less and no to more.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
J. HOGAN: We continue to ask questions and we get no to answers.
Yesterday, the Premier said we’re going to make sure that the definitive agreements reflect the material terms that have already been outlined in the agreement that we voted on in the House of Assembly. The problem is he’s asking us to trust him but Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have lost trust.
Why not do the right thing and bring it to the House so that the Members can vote on it? If it is a good deal, won’t he be able to demonstrate that in the House? What is he afraid of other than losing another caucus Member?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
C. PARDY: Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has asked has the Premier read the document and the Churchill Falls document. I would say, yes, he has.
On Thursday in this House I stood in my place here and I had asked the Member for Conception Bay East - Bell Island, he was on the news saying there was no escalator clause. Yesterday, he stood up and said, well, he wasn’t talking about Churchill Falls, he was talking about Gull Island. But for three days of testimony in this House all experts said that the 2 per cent escalator clause wasn’t the way to go in the MOU – all three days. Then, the Leader of the Opposition stands up and asks if the Premier has read it. I would say –
SPEAKER: The hon. minister’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
J. HOGAN: I’m not sure if the Minister of Finance heard the question because that wasn’t even close to answer of what we’re talking about.
Yesterday, the media revealed that the new lead negotiator was very recently working for the federal Department of Energy. The Premier told the media he didn’t know if his new negotiator worked on the Churchill Falls deal on Ottawa’s side so he doesn’t know if there’s a conflict of interest.
He didn’t talk to his lawyer about the deal. Now he hasn’t talked to the new lead negotiator about his experience.
Why isn’t the Premier engaged on this file?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Energy and Mines.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. PARROTT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Lets talk about not talking to people. For 173 days the Member for Windsor Lake was the Premier of this province and during that time he never moved this file not one inch further. He didn’t talk about it. He didn’t do anything about it.
He didn’t talk to anyone about the Bay du Nord contract. He sat on his laurels and expected that he was going to ride in on his white horse and take over the province. Last October, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador told me–
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
SPEAKER: Order, please!
L. PARROTT: – who they lost trust in. They lost trust in them. That’s why we’re sitting on this side of the House.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
J. HOGAN: Why did the Premier hide his lead negotiator’s most recent employment with Canada when he finally decided to announce who the lead negotiator was?
Again, why can't the Premier tell Newfoundlanders and Labradorians what is happening with this file rather than us having to find out about it in Question Period?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Energy and Mines.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. PARROTT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We know that more uncertainty lies ahead. I’ve heard your concerns about the cost of living, access to health care, safety for your communities. The question before us makes the election so important. It’s how we tackle the challenges.
For me, the answer is simple. The generational opportunity forwarded to us by the Churchill Falls deal signed by our Liberal government, which will create 10,000 jobs, allow us to invest in our hospitals, schools, infrastructure, more public firefighters. The Opposition says they will reject the deal. Without the billions in revenue, this deal is going to deliver. How can we deliver?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
J. HOGAN: I would ask the Members opposite to listen to the question and make an attempt to be relevant to what we’re asking here on behalf of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
Yesterday the Premier confirmed, again, there will not be a vote on the final agreements. He said there will be a technical briefing and all Members opposite will have an opportunity to speak to them.
I ask the Premier: What is the point of that?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
C. PARDY: Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are interested in the facts, what this deal brings to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Leader of the Official Opposition has been quoted in the media, as recently as the past few days, saying that our future has been sold out to Quebec. That might be a debate that we ought to have in the House of Assembly because most Newfoundlanders who have listened to the three days of testimony from our expert witnesses would say that is not the case.
We know the increased value we get with this new deal and I think all the experts, the leader ought to tune in.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
J. HOGAN: I respect the answer. I think what he said was Newfoundlanders and Labradorians would appreciate the opportunity to have that debate.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
J. HOGAN: So I would suggest to the Finance Minister, next time you’re in Cabinet put that on the table and say to the Premier that that is what you believe, that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should hear that debate in the House of Assembly.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
J. HOGAN: The Premier used urgency and the December 31 deadline for the final agreements as his excuse to cancel his referendum. Now, since the Quebec election, the Premier has switched the deadline to March 31.
Now that he’s admitting there’s more time, why doesn’t the Premier get rid of the excuse and actually have the referendum that he promised?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Energy and Mines.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. PARROTT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
One hundred and seventy-three days and they never used any of that time to negotiate one agreement – not one. They come in here –
L. STOYLES: (Inaudible.)
SPEAKER: I’ll ask the minister to take a seat.
The Member for Mount Pearl North, you need not rise any further today. You will not be recognized.
The hon. the minister, and I’ll reset the time.
L. PARROTT: One hundred and seventy-three days he was premier and not one accomplishment – 173 days. Then he comes in here and he questions people’s integrity, he questions their transparency. He campaigned on the same things he rejects today. They ask about bringing this back to the House for a vote. They voted against even renegotiating or negotiating any part of this deal when they voted against the MOU.
He said clearly: We signed a 50-year deal. Now a 50-year deal don’t meet his standards. He boasted about it in his campaign. Now it don’t fit him. Mr. Speaker, at some point they have to make up their minds who it is they want to be.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.
J. HOGAN: What we’re questioning is why the promise to have a referendum has been broken. I would suggest maybe Eugene Hynes when he finds some flip-flops at the bottom of the pond, he knows where he can give them.
Now that urgency is gone and there is more than enough time to hold a referendum, will the Premier explain to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians why he really cancelled his main election campaign promise? Is it because he knows Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will resoundingly say no?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Energy and Mines.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. PARROTT: I would suggest the Member for Windsor Lake looks down at his feet because he probably got his flip-flops on today. If you want to talk about flip-flop, he campaigned against the referendum. He didn’t want a referendum. Don’t just take his word for it. Ask the Member for Mount Scio who publicly said in the news that she thought a referendum was a bad idea. They come in here and they flip-flop every single day. First they think a 50-year deal –
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
SPEAKER: Order, please!
L. PARROTT: – is great. Then when someone else brings it forward, it’s no good. They couldn’t get Bay du Nord across the line. I would say there’s more than one pair of flip-flops over there.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.
L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians know who promised a referendum and they know who cancelled it.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, more than two months ago the Premier announced Team Labrador. Since then, of course, the team has lost 33 per cent of the leadership team.
People are asking me what meetings has Team Labrador had since the team was announced? Can the minister table the minutes from each of those meetings held?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Labrador Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. EVANS: Speaker, when we announced Team Labrador, it was the Premier’s obligation to set up a team that would actually meet with stakeholders, meet with communities, meet with people and bring those concerns back to Cabinet, back to the relevant departments for quick action. But the processes, with any kind of engagement in government, it takes time to set up.
We are actually working with the different departments, Jobs and Growth; and Rural Development. We’re working with Justice, we’re working with Social Supports and Well-Being, we’re working with Health, Speaker, to make sure that we have the proper supports in place to engage. Also, when you go out and consult, it has to be done in a very structured way. We will be meeting –
SPEAKER: The hon. minister’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.
L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, there was a big flashy announcement; it doesn’t sound like anything has been done. One of the members who’s no longer on the team didn’t even know about it in advance.
Has Team Labrador met with any municipalities, Indigenous governments, community leaders, businesses and stakeholders as promised? If so, which ones did they meet with and when?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Labrador Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. EVANS: Speaker, we are developing a website for proper engagement. We will be reaching out to the stakeholders to the communities. We will be going out soon to meet.
The difference between our government and the past government, you’re not going to see 10 years of inaction, Speaker. Our departments are already meeting with Happy Valley-Goose Bay town council, the chamber, the relevant Indigenous organizations. We’re going to make a difference.
I’ll tell you something, Speaker. We’re not going to be rushing this process, we’re actually going to have concrete measures in place to make sure –
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. EVANS: – that the concerns that people raise are brought back for real action, not 10 years of inaction, Speaker.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. EVANS: (Inaudible) years of inaction.
SPEAKER: The hon. minister’s time has expired.
The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.
L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, I’m asking legitimate questions on behalf of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I don’t know why the Minister of Labrador is so angry.
Team Labrador was established to identify community infrastructure needs, health, education and public safety impacts associated with major projects in the region. We’ve been down this road with the PC government with Muskrat Falls, Speaker.
We want to know: What specifically has been identified to date? Can those conclusions be table in this hon. House?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Labrador Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. EVANS: Speaker, I’d just like to address the preamble.
I was over in Opposition. I come from Northern Labrador, Speaker. I actually had to witness first-hand 10 years of inaction, where people were failed to be able to access health care. I have people now who are buried that would probably be alive if we had a good hospital system in Northern Labrador.
When you look at the cost of heating your House, I had to go through, in Opposition, and try to identify ways to actually engage with this former government to make sure that we had the ability to heat our houses.
Failed Liberal promises over and over again –
SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. minister’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.
L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, don’t get me started on better health care for all of us the way we’ve seen a downward spiral –
L. EVANS: Same here, same here.
SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the minister for your co-operation.
L. DEMPSTER: – in the last year. It’s ridiculous, another broken promise that they ran on.
Speaker –
L. EVANS: Same here.
SPEAKER: Order, please!
I ask the minister for your co-operation.
The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.
L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, I asked a legitimate question. It doesn’t sound like anything has been done yet.
Can the minister tell us how far along Team Labrador is in developing its Northern Strategic Plan?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Labrador Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. EVANS: In actual fact, Speaker, we will have a really well-developed Northern Strategic Plan. The work that Team Labrador is going to do and the departments in our government are going to do is actually going to have a really good plan.
We basically are two months in. We are going to be engaging our minister. Our Minister of Health actually went up to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. When I was minister of Health, Speaker, I went up to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. We know the changes.
In actual fact, one of the things that our government is doing is we’re going to put the Paddon Home back in function. So that our seniors are treated with respect and they have a place to reside so that their families are not worried about them over in the hospital taking up beds and not receiving the adequate care that they deserve.
We are actually going to be –
SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. minister’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.
L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, we are more than one year in and all we continue to hear is we’re going to, we’re going to, we’re going to.
Speaking of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, people have reached out to ask me why wasn’t Team Labrador at meetings with the Education Minister when he was in Labrador two weeks ago on such an important issues, Speaker?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Labrador Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. EVANS: Speaker, I’d just like to address the preamble first. We’re going – in actual fact, we’ve done. We put money in the budget.
We look at fiscal forecasts from the previous government where things were announced with no monies allotted to actually –
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
SPEAKER: Order, please!
L. EVANS: – start up the project. We just have to look at health for that. We have to look at housing for that. In actual fact, Speaker, we’re putting stuff in the budget and you know something, we’re not even getting credit for most of the work that we’re doing. That’s real action.
I look at health care. I look at supports. I look at housing, the work that we’re doing. Our first year is basically putting the Liberals to shame.
SPEAKER: The hon. minister’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.
L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, yesterday while we were in this House during debate, the Premier and the Deputy Premier spent a long time in the Speaker’s office. There’s no way a district issue warranted that three-way meeting at that time.
Will the Premier explain what he and the Deputy Premier needed to meet with the Speaker about so urgently while the House was sitting?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Deputy Premier.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
B. PETTEN: Speaker, I find that so distasteful that you had asked us for an issue that both of us had some knowledge on. You have a district to represent as well and they were legitimate concerns and they were departmental issues.
We don’t get that opportunity all the time to talk to the Speaker. So without divulging what we were speaking about, which is no one’s business – only the Speaker’s and mine and the Premier’s – we had a frank conversation. You come to the door and you were welcome to come in after. I wonder what you were going to talk to the Speaker about.
We were in there. What’s the big deal with us talking to the Speaker or you? We spoke to the Speaker on his district issues and we’ll do that in a private conversation any day of the week.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave.
P. PARSONS: Thank you, Speaker.
I say shame on the Deputy Premier, not a good look.
Yesterday, the Minister of Justice did not answer whether a commissioner has been appointed for the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
I ask the minister: Was there ever any contact between the government and the Chief Justice related to the appointment of a commissioner? I remind the minister that we have access to the public record on this.
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Speaker.
As I indicated yesterday this is a very important issue to us. We are concerned about effective representation and making sure the Electoral Boundaries Commission is followed in terms of its requirements.
The act is very clear about what the responsibilities are of our government and we are aware of those responsibilities. We are aware of the timelines and we will have an update on this as soon as we are able.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave.
P. PARSONS: Sounds like a goose egg to me, Speaker.
Once the commissioner is appointed, will the government follow the past convention to ensure the committee reflects the makeup of the House?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER: Speaker, as I just stated, we will provide an update on this. We are looking at everything that is involved with the Electoral Boundaries Act and the commission. We’re aware of our responsibilities and the deadlines and the requirements that are set out in the act and we will have an update on this as soon as we are able.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burin - Grand Bank.
P. PIKE: Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition and I met with the Marystown Town Council not long ago. They’re very passionate about their community and what industrial development would mean to the entire Burin Peninsula, where we all live.
On their behalf, I am asking if the government has advocated to the federal government to spend and invest money in the defence sector in Marystown, which has so much to offer?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Energy and Mines.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
L. PARROTT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Of course we’ve advocated. We’ve advocated for every single place in Newfoundland and Labrador to be looked at when it comes to the defence – every single port that has deepwater capability, every single port that’s developed and undeveloped.
We’ve lobbied for Goose Bay, $8.5 billion; we’ve lobbied for Marystown; we’ve lobbied for Bull Arm; we’ve lobbied for Buchans; we’ve lobbied for Rigolet – we’ve lobbied for every single area in this province.
Equinor has announced that they’re doing subsea work with Kiewit down in Marystown. This is already prosperity for that region. We are looking out to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador – something they failed to do.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burin - Grand Bank.
P. PIKE: Speaker, this government promised the construction of new ferries. Marystown has a proud history of shipbuilding.
Will this government ensure that Marystown will be utilized if the government proceeds with building the new vessels in this province?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
B. PETTEN: Thanks, Speaker.
We have an RFP out now for capacity on the shipbuilding industry throughout the province; whether it’s Marystown; whether it’s harbour Grace; whether it’s St. John's; wherever it’s going to be. We’ll wait until the RFP results come back and whatever they decide, in whatever capacity we have, we are committed to developing the shipbuilding industry in the province.
Where that will be located will be decided in a future time when we get the results of the RFP and we have time to assess it.
Thank you very much.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Gander.
B. FORD: Thank you, Speaker.
Last spring, I asked the then-minister of Tourism what she was doing to prevent the closure of the Geo Centre. She replied that it was under Memorial University and didn’t confirm any actions to ensure this important tourism and educational institution stayed open.
Now the new Minister of Tourism is willing to work with MUN to see if there’s an opportunity to – quote – work together to preserve its role.
Speaker, what’s changed?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
M. GOOSNEY: Well it’s obvious, Speaker, that the portfolios have been switched around. I have stated that we’re here to work with Memorial University to see what we can do to collaborate with all stakeholders when it comes to the Geo Centre.
It’s an extremely important place in our province and I’m going to continue to do that. Our staff have done that and I’m going to support them. As I have something to bring back to the House, I’ll be glad to present it.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s East - Quidi Vidi.
S. O’LEARY: Thank you, Speaker.
Families across our province continue to struggle with the rising cost of living, and those with young children are feeling that pressure every day. With the holiday’s approaching, the added cost of providing for children can make an already difficult situation even harder. Families need some relief when it comes to the essentials that children need.
I ask the Premier: Will he remove the HST from children’s goods to help families manage the cost of raising children?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
C. PARDY: Thank you, Speaker.
Affordability measures are front and centre. Yes, we know that the need is great in Newfoundland and Labrador. The need is great all over the country, maybe all over the world, due to the energy crisis that we’re embarked upon.
In Budget 2026, we put $200 million of people’s money back out to the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. Just recently, with the affordability measures due to the oil revenues, we have put out $143 million in relief measures.
We know that there are another conceivably two more measures yet to come, and we will make sure that we will cover all components of Newfoundland and Labrador’s population.
SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. minister’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s East - Quidi Vidi.
S. O’LEARY: Thank you, Speaker.
Last week, we heard the disturbing report that inmates at HMP did not have access to something as basic as toothbrushes. This is just the latest example of the unacceptable conditions people are living with inside this facility.
When questioned by the media, the minister suggested these issues would be addressed once the new building is completed, but that building is not expected to be ready until fall of 2029.
So I ask the minister: Does she think it is acceptable to tell inmates to wait until 2029 for the basic standards of dignity and care that they deserve?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER: Speaker, it’s really concerning when I hear misinformation put out in this hon. House of Assembly. That is not what I said.
I said that there will be the construction of the facility, but that is not the entire issue here. We have acknowledged that there are issues with the aging facility. We are aware of those issues. We have been working diligently with, for example, NAPE and correctional officers and other partners that are involved in our HMP and providing rehabilitation and other important services.
We need to be clear when we’re talking in this House of Assembly that we’re having accurate information.
SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. minister’s time has expired.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s East - Quidi Vidi.
S. O’LEARY: Thank you, Speaker.
Taken straight from media. People in custody are still people, and they deserve basic dignity and respect today, not three years from now.
I wrote to the minister in July calling for a round-table approach on restorative justice, bringing together community organizations, justice professionals and government. This would be a valuable first step toward building a system that better serves everyone in a collaborative style.
I ask the minister: Will she bring together a round table on restorative justice focusing on rehabilitation and addressing the root causes of crime so people are better equipped to successfully reintegrate into society?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
H. CONWAY OTTENHEIMER: Speaker, I can say that the concept of restorative justice is an integral piece of our strategy when it comes to public safety and ensuring safer communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
With respect to the correctional facility, we are focused on making sure that this is a safe place not only for inmates, but for correctional officers and for visitors that attend at the correctional facility. We have been working so hard over the last number of months with all of the partners and all of the people engaged in trying to make reforms that are necessary for our correctional facility and for dealing with the root causes of crime.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s East - Quidi Vidi.
S. O’LEARY: Speaker, in May alone, this government spent more than $9.2 million on private agency nurses. That is money that can be invested in recruiting and retaining nurses in our own public health care system. We have called for paid work terms for nursing students, recognizing the pressure of balancing full-time studies with the need to work to make ends meet. This was also a commitment in the PC blue book.
I ask the minister: When will this government deliver on that commitment and introduce paid work terms for nursing students?
SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
J. WALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I do thank the Member opposite for the question.
That is an important topic and we have discussed that within the department. That was budgeted in a line item in Budget 2026 and we are working towards making that happen, Mr. Speaker.
With respect to the agency nurses, we are also working through that part of our history here in Newfoundland and Labrador and moving forward with a proper plan to support local nurses in local jobs.
Mr. Speaker, when that is ready to unroll and fold out, we will certainly present it to the House.
Thank you.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
SPEAKER: The time for Question Period has expired.
Please be advised that this is a PARTIALLY EDITED portion of the House of Assembly sitting for Question Period on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The edited Hansard will be posted when it becomes available.