Today in the House of Assembly, NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) and NDP MHA Sheilagh O’Leary (St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi) continued to question government on their plans for affordability, calling for more clarity around what work they have been doing.
Dinn opened by pointing out that the government’s move to make the gas tax reduction permanent isn’t a new cut – it simply locks in the status quo. He underscored that rising gas prices are being driven by global pressures and pressed the government to be upfront about when the budget will be delivered so people can finally see what real affordability measures, if any, are coming.
“Speaker, gas prices are above $2 per litre for the first time since 2022. The Opposition is calling for a gas tax cut, the Premier is asking the Prime Minister for help with gas prices, and the Finance Minister hints at affordability measures in the upcoming budget.
I ask the Minister can he confirm the rumours and tell the people today when he will release the provincial budget so they can see for themselves the promised affordability measures?”
O’Leary followed Jim Dinn by continuing to press the Minister of Government Services on rent control. In recent weeks, O’Leary has repeatedly asked what concrete steps the department is taking to address skyrocketing rents driven by the private market’s push for higher profits. After receiving little in the way of clear answers, she challenged the Minister to clarify exactly who the “stakeholders” are that he claims to be consulting with.
“Speaker, the Minister responded to my question on rent control, saying he is passionate about people and that he will continue to meet with stakeholders, as he has been doing. So, I ask the Minister, what stakeholders has he engaged with since being
elected directly related to rent control?”
Finally, Dinn pressed government on when they will finally release the All-Party Committee report on Basic Income – a result of an NDP resolution.
“Speaker, of course, affordability could be significantly helped by a guaranteed basic income. I ask the Premier, while we are waiting for the Minister of Finance to choose a date, will he commit to releasing the report of the All-Party Committee on basic Income this week? I have a copy here that we can release together following question period if he likes.”