Please be advised that this is a PARTIALLY EDITED portion of the House of Assembly sitting for Question Period on Tuesday, June 2, 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

Oral Questions

SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

J. HOGAN: Thank you, Speaker.

Speaker, we’re hearing that the federal government has inserted itself into the Churchill Falls negotiations, but does not want to run the risk of putting time and effort into getting the deal only to see it fail in a referendum.

So can the Premier confirm that he has walked away from his referendum promise at the insistence of the federal government?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, what I can tell you is I’ve walked away from nothing. I have not walked away from the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WAKEHAM: When the Members opposite wanted to push through this MOU, we stood up and said, no, we needed an independent review. We got the independent review done, and we’ll follow the independent review and the recommendations there to get a better deal for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

J. HOGAN: Speaker, if the Premier hasn’t walked away from his referendum promise, I give him another opportunity.

Will he stand by the promise he made or is he walking away because it wasn’t recommended in the report by people that he doesn’t know, who gave the recommendations?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, what I do know is the recommendations in this report are ones that we intend to follow.

We intend to get more value, more transmission. Those are the kinds of things that we’re looking for in this report for the people of Newfoundland; not just for the people that are here today, but for generations, for the 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. That’s the kind of effort we are putting in and that’s exactly what we are going to get done so that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador can have something that they truly believe in for generations to come.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

J. HOGAN: Speaker, if people can’t trust the Premier’s first and foremost election commitment, how will they trust anything else he does during the course of his mandate? That’s the issue.

Since the Premier won’t agree with himself to bring his deal to the people, will he at least commit to bring in a new MOU or an agreement to the House of Assembly for an extraordinary debate, the same as our Liberal government did in 2025 when openness and transparency was a real thing?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, I had committed to the people of Newfoundland to do an independent review of the MOU. It’s an independent review that we did and we have the report right here.

Let me turn around and read you page 28, one of the things we won’t do: “In this situation, GNL oversight and intervention during negotiations effectively superseded the NLH board’s governance role, contributing to a riskier and more expensive deal. In the opinion of the IRC, governance of the MOU negotiation process did not meet” –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

SPEAKER: Order, please!

PREMIER WAKEHAM: – “the high standards required by a project of this value, complexity, and importance.”

We will get it right. We will get a better deal for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

J. HOGAN: Speaker, this is my last question to the Premier before we break.

Will he commit to reconsidering, during the break: Disclosing the names of the people who gave evidence at the MOU Review Panel; disclosing the mandate of Jerome Kennedy and Bern Coffey who were secretly hired in January; explaining the role Danny Willaims played in the death of the MOU, conferring the Premier has broken his referendum promise; disclosing how the new drydock will be paid for; state whether he agrees with his minister that people should sue the government when they can't get health care solved; disclose the cost of renovations for St. Clare’s that they haven’t disclosed yet; explain why he walked away from the shared-equalization dollars and commit to using MCP and public finds appropriately rather than for his own political purpose?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, the people of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador elected us back in October to provide better access to health care, to provide a lower cost of living and to have safer communities. We’ve started down that road.

It is a road that was left to us but we are going to make sure we deliver on that and the Minister of Finance is starting to do that already: $15,000 tax-free money for everyone in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador that files their income tax. Speaker, 285,000 people will benefit from that. Paid work terms for students. Let’s see that benefit. Twenty per cent increase in the benefits for seniors – Seniors’ Benefits. Three thousand more children and families who will get added to the list so that they, too, will have cost of living (inaudible).

SPEAKER: The Premier’s time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition.

J. HOGAN: Speaker, yesterday the Minister of TI said in this House he’ll govern the way he wants to govern. I’m not sure who that was directed at and who he says is telling him how to govern, but what people want are the results from good governance.

So when can the public expect results on the search for a new chief pilot rather than just hearing the minister is aware of the situation?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

B. PETTEN: Thank you, Speaker.

I remind the Leader of the Opposition I’ve been working on this file since last week. This is not new to us. Like I said, we had a letter come in from the former pilot when he resigned so we automatically put in place a process to hire a new one – put out an ad for a new person.

Where we ‘re having difficulties, because there are other issues going on internally and we’re dealing with those. We had an anonymous letter come last week which we’ve acted on immediately. As of when I left the department to come over earlier today, we’re very close to having a chief water bomber pilot in place. We’re working on those details today and, hopefully, we’ll have it in place by tomorrow.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Gander.

B. FORD: Thank you.

Speaker, there is a strike looming at Marine Atlantic. The Minister of Tourism has stated that access is the number one issue for the industries. Workers are asking to be declared a non-essential service.

What is the Tourism Minister’s position on this designation?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, I think everybody in this Chamber will recognize the significant importance of Marine Atlantic to our province, not just for moving people back and forth, but moving our supplies, our goods and services that we depend upon. Those are the critical parts of that.

In our fishing industry right now, our crab industry, moving their goods to get them to market, to get our lobster to market, it’s an essential part of what we do and what we need here. This morning I met with the minister of Finance federally and brought those exact issues to him to talk about how we get this issue resolved.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Gander.

B. FORD: Speaker, if this strike happens, tourism operators will suffer financial consequences of something out of their control.

I ask the Minister of Tourism: What is your backup plan if hotels, tours, restaurants, B & Bs and adventure excursions receive cancellations because people cannot travel to our province?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, as I said, Marine Atlantic is a huge issue for us. It’s a method of transportation; we call it our highway. It’s important that that highway be maintained, and that’s exactly the message I’ve delivered to the minister of Finance this morning.

This is an issue that has to be dealt with sooner than later. It has to be dealt with and we hope that the employees and the employer can get back to the negotiating table and get it resolved.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Gander.

B. FORD: Thank you.

Speaker, this is the start of tourism season, and government has declared a goal of making Newfoundland and Labrador the capital of tourism in Canada.

From a tourism lens, has the Minister of Tourism met with Marine Atlantic herself since word of the potential strike broke, and what support or intervention has she offered?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, as I said, tourism is definitely an essential part of the equation with Marine Atlantic, but it is much more than that. It’s about making sure that the goods and services, that our grocery shelves are filled, that our other resources, our exports can move to market.

So this is a huge file and that needs to be addressed. That’s why I met with the minister of Finance this morning to have those discussions.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.

E. LOVELESS: Speaker, a senior in my district received a bill that he cannot afford to pay for emergency medical care he received while visiting family in Alberta. He was assured there would be no cost to him, only to return to the province and get a $12,000 bill. So unfair.

With the $13,000 bonus paid out of MCP funds for a part-time political staffer in the Premier’s office that no one can explain, will the Minister of Seniors and Finance commit to spending smarter and put his own words of targeting those who need it most into action and take care of this senior during Seniors’ Month?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. EVANS: Speaker, we’re aware sometimes, when people are out of the province and they fall ill, that they need access to medical care. Unfortunately, the policy here is that if you’re outside of the province you need to obtain insurance.

Sometimes, the first responders are not aware of the bills and they give false information to patients, but at the end of the day, we’re willing to listen, to work, to try and help people but. At the end of the day, people need to be more aware when travelling outside the province to make sure that you do have coverage.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.

E. LOVELESS: I say to the minister, if it’s a policy change then that’s on you to change that policy. You said in your response that –

SPEAKER: I would ask that you address the Chair.

E. LOVELESS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So will you say if you would change that policy –

SPEAKER: Again, I would ask that you address the Chair.

E. LOVELESS: Mr. Speaker, if the minister would change that policy and help this senior during Seniors’ Month, because I did hear from a former CEO of Central that MCP funds have been used for this purpose.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. EVANS: Speaker, although there was no question, I just want to address the preamble and the lack of question there. You know, at the end of the day government has policies.

In actual fact, the Member was a minister in the past government that was in place for 10 years that had that policy in place. So if he’s asking me, as a new Member of this new government, Speaker, to change the policy, well then, he has the history and understanding that it’s not that simple.

At the end of the day, we just have to make sure when people are travelling outside the province that they do have coverage.

Thank you.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune.

E. LOVELESS: I’ll say to the minister, stop hiding behind the past. If I was in Cabinet or in the government right now, I would approve that for the senior.

Will you do the same?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. EVANS: Speaker, in actual fact I will go back to my department and ask them what would be the process to allow for any resident of Newfoundland and Labrador to travel elsewhere, outside the province into other countries and what happens if they get sick, what kind of cost would it be for this province.

I’m not hiding behind the past, I’m stating a fact that this past government, who’s no longer in government, for 10 years did not make the changes, Speaker. So I think it’s basically sort of, to be quite honest, quite cowardice of him to be accusing me of hiding behind the past.

I’m speaking sense. I will look at it, but at the end of the day residents have to actually have coverage when travelling outside of province.

SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the minister’s time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.

L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, my colleague was asking about a file that came across his desk now. He may not have even dealt with this in past years to be aware.

Speaker, last year a tender was awarded and work started on the Cartwright school. In January, I met with the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and I was pleased when he reaffirmed his commitment to continue. But it’s been since last year and no movement.

Can the minister reaffirm his commitment to residents and students to ensuring the completion of the Cartwright school and can he share some timelines?

Thank you.

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

B. PETTEN: Thank you, Speaker.

To the Member’s comments on the school, it was something we inherited. It was approved just before the election last year. We’re running into problems. I told her last week I’d update her this week and I will. I’ll have an update this week.

There are challenges. Right now, there is very little work that has been completed. We’ve had a lot of challenges with contractors on various issues and we’re back and forth with staff. That’s why I told her I committed to her that I’d give her an update this week, and I still commit to doing that in the next day or two.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.

L. DEMPSTER: Thank you.

Premier, I was pleased when the minister confirmed their commitment and the Labrador Affairs Minister’s commitment in January. I really hope that we can hold him, the people can hold him, through to that.

Speaker, Forteau health centre in Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair serves the entire district, and they have been without a doctor since last year. Given the remoteness of the region, we’ve heard again and again from leadership and residents that Teladoc alone does leave the residents at risk.

Can the minister confirm that she is actively working to ensure a doctor is placed back in Forteau health centre?

Thank you.

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. EVANS: Speaker, it was just yesterday we actually met with the Member who has just asked me the question and two of the mayors. We did address a lot of the questions and concerns that they had. We did say that we are committed to recruitment and retention, Speaker, of doctors and nurse practitioners and nurses for the region. We are even looking at trying to have an MOU with Quebec to have some coverage, Speaker.

What we’re finding, unfortunately with Quebec, is they have their own needs. So then they’re more resistant to actually have patients from other provinces use their resources, Speaker. We are working on it, we’re committed to it and we want to assure the people that recruitment is a high priority.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Placentia - St. Mary’s.

S. GAMBIN-WALSH: Thank you, Speaker.

Yesterday, the Minister of Health stated that she was not aware of the concerns being raised by paramedics. Given the seriousness of the issues they have identified that response is concerning.

Can the minister provide the House with an update on what steps she has taken since yesterday, and what action she is taking in response to the paramedics’ concerns?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. EVANS: Speaker, I did go back to Health and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services to sort of get an understanding of what the Member was raising on behalf of some paramedics. In actual fact, the paramedics are not tied directly into CorCare but they do have access to information that can be communicated to them through CorCare.

Medavie is actually modernizing the ambulance system, Speaker. They’re engaging CorCare in that process. We’re looking at whether or not the paramedics need to be tied directly into CorCare, but that’s something that we’re reviewing and it’s ongoing.

Right now, the paramedics have access to information of the patients to make sure that the patients are safe and that their response is actually adequate, Speaker.

SPEAKER: The hon. minister’s time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Mount Scio.

S. STOODLEY: Speaker, recently a resident of my district went to the Health Sciences Centre emergency room. After 14 hours waiting, they suggested he go home and come back in 10 hours. Tragically, he went home and passed away.

What can the Minister of Health say to his friends and family and everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador who relies on the Health Sciences Centre as the tertiary hospital in Newfoundland and Labrador?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. EVANS: Speaker, sadly I wasn’t aware of this tragedy. What I would say is my deepest heartfelt condolences when somebody passes away, especially somebody who’s trying to access health care. That’s one of the reasons why we’re trying to make sure that not only is the emerg fully staffed, but also our Urgent Care Centre down in Stavanger is fully staffed and operational.

Speaker, we’re working now to actually get the other urgent care centres up and running so that when people do go to actually access health care, they’ll have a timely response.

My deepest condolences to the family, Speaker. We are trying to do better. We will be better.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Virginia Waters - Pleasantville.

B. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

During Estimates, the minister stated that the immigration functions remain within the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Since then, concerns have resurfaced that work previously handled by the department may now be contracted to private companies.

Can the minister confirm whether his department has issued or considered any contract, service agreement or delegation of authority that assigns immigration duties to a private company?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. PADDOCK: Speaker, first of all, immigration is a federal responsibility. They set the numbers and then we work with that. We have two streams here: We have the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration pilot. We have not delegated any responsibility outside of our department.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Virginia Waters - Pleasantville.

B. DAVIS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, I’ll ask the minister to explain. A local employer reports that at least one private company has had direct meetings between the company and the deputy minister. That level of access suggests coordination that would normally occur when a firm is delivering work on behalf of the government.

Will the minister explain what occurred?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Jobs and Growth, and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. PADDOCK: Speaker, our department, with regard to immigration files, is in the process of meeting with all stakeholders that are conducting and supporting newcomers to our province, and that’s the way it should be.

With regard to expanded meetings, we are in the process of updating, because we are behind the rest of the provinces with regard to immigration policy, and we are in the process right now of doing consultations right across our province.

Thank you very much.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Burin - Grand Bank.

P. PIKE: Speaker, in Estimates I asked the Minister of Education about the status of the Education Accord, a document that had over 120 inputs, including Department of Education officials, teachers, students, Memorial University, NL Schools, early childhood educators, the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee and many others.

I ask again: When will the task of implementing this important document begin?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

P. DINN: I thank the Member for the question. Really, the answer hasn’t changed from what was answered in Estimates.

It’s an important document, no doubt about it, because of the input of those on the front lines, the many teachers, the many professionals that have offered input there. It’s currently back to us in terms of a final review. Brack and Brine, I believe, was the consulting firm that did the initial assessment after the AI allegations. So we will take that.

We have our own blueprint in terms of our commitments with education. We will not be throwing out the Education Accord because there will be pieces in that, once we get it back, that will be of value to us. Again, it goes back to the input from both –

SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. minister’s time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Harbour Grace - Port de Grave.

P. PARSONS: Speaker, last week I asked about residents in my region unable to get appointments for blood collection at Carbonear Hospital. The minister assured me that she was working on a plan.

I have since heard from constituents who are frustrated that they finally did get an appointment, but two months out, which is not acceptable.

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. EVANS: Speaker, we are working with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services to address a lot of the issues that’s happening. We do understand the long wait times, but I do agree with the Member that is unacceptable. We will be looking into the long wait times and hopefully be able to have something back to her shortly.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Mount Scio.

S. STOODLEY: Speaker, in 2021 the Conservative platform actually said – and I quote: A PC government will renegotiate the equalization formula to end the discrimination against provinces that rely on resource revenue. If Ottawa will not negotiate a fair deal, we will sue for justice – end quote. That was the now Premier, who was the Finance critic.

Why is he now reversing his promise to sue for justice and letting Ottawa off the hook?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WAKEHAM: Speaker, I stood in this House yesterday and literally said there is no equality. There is nothing equal about equalization and I stand by that statement. We still need to negotiate a better deal with the federal government when it comes to how that type of equalization is carried out across this country.

But right now, we’re working with the federal government and we’re working with the premiers of the other provinces to see how we can make that happen. I definitely think that I will stand by that statement. There is nothing equal about equalization and it needs to change.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair.

L. DEMPSTER: Speaker, the Premier and the minister promised MRIs for Labrador but have not provided a timeline on when they can be expected. We learned in Estimates that the first step is renovations have to be done at the site. We know right across the province there is not sufficient staff to run the MRIs.

Can the minister provide an update and let Labradorians know when they can expect this diagnostic tool?

Thank you.

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

L. EVANS: Speaker, when we committed to MRIs, we put two MRIs in our first budget. In our very first budget getting into government after 10 years of a Liberal government that failed to deliver a lot of infrastructure and services for health care delivery in our province, Speaker, other than opening up of buildings and entering long-term leases and failing to actually recruit staff.

For me, I think this is a strong commitment to Labrador; it’s a huge commitment to Labrador. It’s in our budget. We are actually going to order the MRIs. We’re going to actually make sure the infrastructure is there, and we’re actually going to try to do something about the mess we’ve been left in recruitment from the old government and make sure we’re properly recruiting staff to make sure the MRIs –

SPEAKER: The minister’s time has expired.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Virgina Waters - Pleasantville for a quick question.

B. DAVIS:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In the Budget Speech it talks about building stronger workforce and creating opportunity for all of us, yet MUNFA has warned that the cuts to the mathematics department will reduce course offerings that are essential for engineering, business, science and technology programs.

How does the minister justify allowing cuts that directly undermine the very workforce goals his own budget claims to advance?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and Advanced Education and Skills.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

P. DINN: Thank you. A good question and I thank the Member for it.

As we know the university is autonomous; it runs through the Board of Regents, which I have a lot of confidence in moving forward. They look at the challenges they have ahead. I take their word on it.

I’ve spoken with MUNFA, I’ve spoken with the president of the university and many other groups there. They’re doing their best to ensure that the university remains a comprehensive university, offers all the programs that are needed to ensure that our economy is prepared for the future.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

J. DINN: Thank you, Speaker.

Speaker, parents at Riverside Elementary School in Clarenville are expressing concern that incoming kindergarten students may not receive adequate supports because of class size and complexity of needs, and are seeking a meeting with the minister and stronger inclusive education supports.

The NLTA’s Wear Red ad campaign already raised concerns that the 94 teaching units and 20 TLAs will do little to lower class caps and address class size and composition.

Will the Minister of Education explain how these positions will be operationalized to address significant class size and composition issues, especially considering the district was unable to hire the full comp of 400 last year?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

P. DINN: Thank you, Speaker.

With regard to Riverside we’ve had conversations with them. It’s an issue that they’re raising now. Their main concern is about being proactive rather than reactive and not doing these changes when it comes to inclusive education in the fall.

But I will tell you our professionals within the department are doing that now. They are going through reviewing the needs of the various schools around the province. They will then determine what the ratios are that are needed there.

They’ll have those ready for September. However, we know that over the summer these ratios change because parents and students sometimes change where they’re going to school. So, right now, our intent is to have the inclusive supports in place, as well as the classrooms.

SPEAKER: The hon. minister’s time has expired.

The hon. the Leader of the Third Party.

J. DINN: Thank you, Speaker.

I can’t help but think the ground work of figuring out the ratio should have been done before you picked the number to put into the school system.

Speaker, Budget 2026 announced $1 million to place social workers in schools as part of the provincial expansion of the DoorWays program to support student mental health. Meanwhile Memorial University announced a 20 per cent cut to social work faculty seats for the 2025-2026 school year.

I ask the Premier: Where exactly does his government plan to get the social workers to address student mental health or to fill the vacancies in the Department of Social Supports and Well-Being?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

J. WALL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member opposite for the question.

It is of great importance that we have a sufficient number of social workers within government. I’m very proud to say that my department has reached out to the entire social work class and has offered positions to more than half the class.

Speaker, we have included this in 2026 budget to make sure that social workers are certainly within my department. That, of course, will branch out to other departments as well, but right now, in Social Supports and Well-Being, we certainly recognize the need.

We are now at a percentage of just under 20 per cent vacancies within the department. With these social workers hired, Mr. Speaker, that will lower that again. Very proud of this Premier, very proud of this government and very proud of Budget 2026.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s East - Quidi Vidi.

S. O’LEARY: Thank you, Speaker.

We are seeing climate fluctuations with increasingly hotter and drier summers in this province, and we know from experience with extreme heat can cause serious health risks for seniors, particularly those living in conditions where they have limited ability to cool their environment.

Will the government confirm that every long-term care and personal care home in this province has working air conditioning in all shared spaces and in residents’ private rooms?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

B. PETTEN: Speaker, I think that was a game of tag, but in any event that’s a great question actually.

My mom lives in a personal care home. I understand exactly where you’re coming from. Those are parameters, those are guidelines that we've discussed. That's something we'll have further discussion on because in order to do so it's a huge cost impact and it’s also a lot of private operators as well.

So that would be a bigger conversation, but it’s a point well taken and it’s something we’ll take under consideration.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for St. John’s East - Quidi Vidi.

S. O’LEARY: Thank you, Speaker.

The government’s Electric Car Rebate program shut down applications on March 15 and the sales of EVs have been growing every year because people want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower long-term transportation costs.

Can the minister explain why government dropped the EV program and will it be revived?

SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Environment., Conservation and Climate Change.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

C. TIBBS: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

This province was very proud to give out EV, electric vehicle, rebates over the years. The simple answer is that the federal rebate is now on for anybody who wants to buy an EV. That just pretty much took the place of provincial rebates, so anybody can apply for the federal rebate starting now as well.

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, June 2, 2026. The edited Hansard will be posted when it becomes available.