Both opposition parties are calling for greater transparency from government after learning that they will only get 45 minutes to debate the merits of the Churchill Falls Deal MOU with the PC government.
The Legislature is being opened for four days of debate starting September 14th – with 36 hours allotted for MHA’s to ask questions of a panel of experts.
Liberal Leader John Hogan was expecting to be able to ask more questions of government – something he says the Liberals allowed the PCs to do during a similar debate last year.
John Hogan, Leader of Liberal Opposition (VOCM News).
“So over the course of four days, 36 hours, essentially what we’re going to deal with is one question period. We don’t think that’s acceptable,” he told reporters.
It’s completely different than the baseline that we expected based on our 2025 debate in the House of Assembly, which was really much more of a committee-style format, a lot of back-and-forth opportunities for members to ask questions.”
NDP Leader Jim Dinn is disappointed by the move. He says he will focus on what it means for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and not on “political theatre.”
Jim Dinn, Leader of NDP (VOCM News).
“Does this deal make economic sense? So strip away the promises that the PCs made…I’ll go after them for that on a separate occasion, but can we answer the question that I put forward; what are we actually getting here? Who did you consult? What were the other options? Where does the Innu stand on this?”
Government House Leader Lloyd Parrott claims there was a “lot of wasted time” during debate on the last MOU.
Lloyd Parrot, Energy Minister (VOCM News)
“Last time around, we found that there was a lot of wasted time in the House of Assembly. We believe that the public will have a very clear understanding of what this deal represents if the expert witnesses receive the questions that need to be asked.”
“So when they come in, there will be ample time to ask them questions. At the end of all of that, if opposition feels that they haven’t had the ability to ask questions or haven’t gotten the answers they want, they’ll have a 45-minute opportunity to ask government questions.”
