Listen to this article
Estimated 5 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Liberal opposition leader John Hogan is used to answering questions, but as the house reconvenes on Monday, he says he’s getting ready to ask them.
“We’re on the other side of the house,” Hogan told CBC News. “But it doesn’t change our goal. Our goal is to deliver good policy, good legislation and good solutions.”
Lieutenant Governor Joan Marie Aylward is scheduled to deliver a speech from the throne at 2:00 p.m. to officially start the spring session.
The house last sat on May 22, but it stayed closed during the fall session while the votes of three contested electoral districts awaited approval for judicial recount.
Hogan told CBC News that he is “extremely disappointed” the house remained cancelled, as it could’ve been an opportunity for the new Progressive Conservative government to be held accountable to their election promises.
Since taking office, the PC’s have cancelled several former Liberal government projects, including a new hospital in St. John’s and a potential national marine conservation area for the south coast of the island.
Hogan said he’s hoping to hear what the PC’s are going to do, other than cancel pre-existing projects.
“They’ve really just sort of been a bit negative, as opposed to positive things that they promised that they would do,” he said.
Meanwhile, Premier Tony Wakeham told reporters on Sunday that he is ready to recommit to promises made during the election.
“Our commitment on making sure that health care becomes more accessible, that people have lower taxes and that we have safer communities,” Wakeham said while speaking during an appearance at the Brier curling championship. “That’s the priorities that you will hear in the throne speech.”
Health care top of mind
Health care is a top priority for Hogan and Wakeham heading into the spring session.
Liberal leader, John Hogan, prepares to sit in the opposition as the House of Assembly reconvenes for the spring session. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)
While in government, the Liberals released a 10-year health accord, aimed at revamping the province’s health-care system.
Pointing to recent findings from the Auditor General that suggested bonuses were helping retain physicians and nurses, Hogan said the Liberals made “great strides” in improving the health-care system.
Meanwhile, the PC’s announced last month that Dr. Pat Parfrey — a principal architect of the health accord — would be leaving his role as the head of N.L . Health Services.
Hogan said the spring sitting will be a good opportunity to ask more questions about these changes.
He also criticized the Premier’s office for hiring a special advisor with a $275,000 salary paid by the province’s medical care plan.
“We’re very taken aback by the fact that money was taken from MCP, which everybody knows in this province is for health care,” he said. “This is now not being used for health care purposes, it’s clearly being used for political advice.”
Churchill Falls MOU nearing deadline
The Churchill Falls Memorandum of Understanding was a hot button item during the election. Meanwhile, questions have swirled around the future of the agreement between N.L. Hydro and Hydro-Québec since Wakeham called for an independent review.
Premier Tony Wakeham said he is ready to recommit to promises made during the election when the house reopens on Monday. (Julia Israel/CBC)
And the deadline is approaching, as the three-member review panel has been tasked to put together the review by the end of April.
Hogan said his main question for the PC government is “Why not continue negotiations?”
“I understand there’s a panel now reviewing the deal, but it’s okay to continue negotiations while that’s ongoing,” he said.
When the panel was appointed, Hogan questioned the appointment of Michael Wilson, who has publicly stated his disapproval of the MOU.
“So why are we wasting our time? Why are we spinning our wheels with people that we already know their opinion on this deal?” said Hogan. “Let’s get the Premier in the room with the Premier of Quebec and try and encourage them to get a good deal for Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Affordability top of mind for NDP
NDP Leader Jim Dinn says he’ll be focused on affordability in the spring session. (CBC)
NDP Leader Jim Dinn said his party will be focused on affordability — which he said ties into many challenges like housing and pharmacare — as well as the Churchill Falls MOU.
“We hear a lot of deep frustrations with this. Certainly for us, it will be the Churchill Falls MOU as to what the government plans to do to at least make sure that Labrador has the power it needs,” he told Radio-Canada.
Dinn added he will also be keeping an eye to the issue of transparency, adding when the PCs were the opposition they “decried” the lack of transparency on the Liberals part.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.