Dinn on Hogan’s First Budget: “No Relief, No Plan, No Leadership”
- NL NDP
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
For Immediate Release
May 15, 2025
NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) says with Premier John Hogan’s first budget passing in the House of Assembly last night the Liberal government is missing the mark and missing the moment.
“People in this province are being crushed by the cost of living — and the Premier’s first budget does nothing to help them,” said Dinn. “No HST relief on home heating. No rent control. No action on Pharmacare. This budget is not for everyday people.”
Despite supposed reduced deficit, boosted by one-time tobacco settlement money, the government is offering no meaningful affordability relief. Instead, it is doubling down on short-term fixes and empty gestures, while families face rising costs and crumbling public services.
Government claims travel nurse reliance is down, but costs have doubled to $139 million. Premier Hogan says he’s listening, but refuses to sign onto the federal Pharmacare plan which would cover medication, glucose monitors, and test strips for the third of NL residents living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. The sugar tax is being removed in the name of affordability, but no long-term funding has been committed to maintain the school nutrition, diabetes monitoring, and prenatal health programs it supported.
“What this government is failing to acknowledge is that too many people in Newfoundland and Labrador are struggling and too many aren’t getting the care they need,” said Dinn. “This Premier has no plan for them. And this budget has no plan for them either.”
Dinn emphasized that the NL NDP has been putting forward real solutions that would make life easier now:
Removing the HST on home heating to help seniors and working families.
Implementing rent control to rein in runaway housing costs.
Raising the minimum wage to $20 so full-time work means a life with dignity.
Signing on to federal Pharmacare to reduce out-of-pocket costs for essential medications.
Ending reliance on private agency nurses by investing in recruiting and retaining local healthcare staff.
“People want a government that listens and delivers. If the Liberals won’t step up, New Democrats will.”
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca