NDP leader sanctioned for asking whether housing comments were 'lies'

The leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador NDP was sanctioned Monday for saying "lie" when talking about the Liberal government's past words and actions on housing-related issues, while the deputy premier faced Tory questions about whether she misspoke about the number of affordable housing units built by the government.

Housing issues were once again at the forefront during question period at the legislature on Monday.

Before proceedings even began, Speaker Derek Bennett rose to deliver his ruling on comments made by NDP Leader Jim Dinn in the House on Thursday.

Dinn was under the microscope for saying: "Will the premier admit that what his minister said is a lie, and he has misled the House and the people of this province about the actual numbers of houses built?" and "I ask the premier: were these statements lies as well?"

Bennett found that the language was unparliamentary and asked for Dinn to "unequivocally withdraw both comments."

Dinn declined, twice.

Bennett then ruled that the NDP leader will not be recognized to speak in the House until he withdraws the statements.

WATCH | NDP Leader Jim Dinn is reprimanded in the House of Assembly:

NDP leader reprimanded for lies comment after refusing to retract it

12 months ago

Duration 2:06

Jim Dinn cannot speak or ask questions in the House of Assembly after he refused to retract his comments he made during question period last week. House Speaker Derek Bennett ruled Monday that Dinn used unparliamentary language when he asked, Were these statements lies as well? referring to Housing Minister Paul Pikes claim that 750 housing units have been built since 2021.

After question period, Dinn explained his decision by saying the Liberal government's actions do not reflect their words.

"There are people whose lives are dependent on having a safe place to live their well-being, their ability to start in a new direction," Dinn said.

"If this is what it takes to make them realize the seriousness of this, then so be it."

Dinn said he may have to reconsider his decision at some point, depending on how the session of the legislature plays out.

Coady asked aboutsocial media remarks

Last week, CBC News reported on recent comments made by Social Development Minister Paul Pike.

When Pike unveiled seven newly completed public housing units at a news conference in Gander earlier this month, he said,"In the last two years we've built 750 new homes in this province."

Pike added,"They're right across the province, in every community we've been building these homes, and the 750 mark is something that we were striving to get to."

However, CBC News revealed that the actual number of new government-owned social housing units that are completed and currently ready to be lived inis 11.

• The housing minister said 750 new homes have been built in 2 years. It's less ... much less

The 750 number, which has been repeatedly referenced in recent months, relates to "housing options."

Those options include planned units that haven't actually been started yet, and an array of emergency accommodations such as non-profit shelters.

Pike said he misspoke when he made those comments.

Back inside the House on Monday, PC Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham pressed Finance Minister Siobhan Coady on comments she had made about the government's record on housing builds.

In a video posted to social media after the release of the provincial budget in March, Coady said "we've built about 750 new affordable houses" in the last couple of years.

Wakeham asked Coady whether she misspoke too.

Coady referenced 750 "housing options" and added: "While the member opposite is playing gotcha politics, we're over here helping the people of the province."

Wakeham replied: "This isn't about gotcha politics. This is about facts."

The PC leader said Coady's comments in the video were "scripted."

Coady, who also serves as deputy premier, said that wasn't the case they were "off the cuff."

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