Tories call House of Assembly closure ‘disrespectful’
Government says planned legislative agenda completed
Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham stood with his caucus around him outside the House of Assembly on Thursday.
The doors to the chamber were shut.
Wakeham held a news conference just outside those closed doors to make a point that they should be open.
The legislature was scheduled to be open on Thursday and again on Tuesday next week before budget day on Wednesday, but the Liberal government shut it down early.
A spokesperson for the premier’s office told Saltwire Wednesday evening they simply got through the legislative agenda for the spring session faster than anticipated, and the rest of the spring sitting will deal with the budget.
IMPORTANT BILLS NOT DEBATED
Wakeham said people across the province have concerns ranging from access to health care, to the high cost of living, to housing and the fishery.
“These are the concerns of the people in Newfoundland and Labrador who want to be heard, and this is their House — it’s not the premier’s House,” Wakeham said.
He said he found the premier’s office’s rationale for adjourning early to be “not only disappointing, but upsetting and disrespectful for the people of Newfoundland to say that necessary business had been done.
“Well, let me tell you, the necessary business of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador had not been done,” he said.
“There’s a whole series of bills that are on the order paper right now that never got dealt with. … There’s at least 13 bills.”
Opposition House Leader Barry Petten said that includes a bill to amend the Lands Act, and he pointed to the huge issues with Crown lands right now as an indication of its importance.
SHUTTING DOWN
In addition, Petten said, the legislature does more than pass legislation. Some PC caucus members raised their hand to say they had constituents who were planning to travel to St. John’s from their districts during those two now-cancelled days to hear statements in their honour.
Petten said MHAS also submit petitions to the government on behalf of their constituents, and question period is a chance for the Opposition to ask questions on behalf of residents.
“So, when you’re shutting down the House, you’re shutting down people’s voice,” Petten said.
SPRING SESSION BUDGET-FOCUSED
In a written statement issued late Thursday afternoon, Government House Leader John Hogan said the House was closed on Thursday, March 14 and Tuesday, March 19, “as the legislative agenda planned for the period before budget day has been completed.
“The schedule for the House of Assembly is set a year in advance, long before the date of the budget is set,” he said.
“The House will resume on Wednesday, March 20, for the provincial government’s $10-billion budget, as the spring session continues to be focused on the budget. We look forward to passing a responsible budget that benefits all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Hogan’s statement read.