Minister says he 'misspoke' as pressure mounts on N.L. government over housing claims

Sheltered, a CBC Investigates series, examines the housing crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador telling the stories of the people living it, while scrutinizing the policies and politics behind it.

The Andrew Furey administration took heavy fire from both opposition parties in the House of Assembly on Thursday over a CBC News investigation into what the Liberals say they have done compared with what they have actually doneto address the housing crisis.

It was a chaotic day in the legislature, with the housing minister saying he "misspoke" about hundreds of homes that haven't actually been built, the premier shrugging off the difference between housing "units" and "options," and proceedings abruptly ending hours before the scheduled time.

During an interview earlier this month, Social Development Minister Paul Pike said, "In the last two years we've built 750 new homes in this province."

According to data from the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, the actual number of completed social housing units ready for occupancy is 11.

That revelation dominated Thursday afternoon's question period.

"The minister of housing has repeatedly claimed 750 new homes were built over the last two years. According to a CBC story this morning, the Liberal government have built just 11," PC Opposition leader Tony Wakeham said.

"I ask the premier, was your minister misinformedor misinforming the people of Newfoundland and Labrador?"

Furey replied: "The minister has corrected that statement with the media, he says that he misspoke. It was not done out of malice or an intent to mislead, it was simply a mistake."

Wakeham: "The premier has also talked about 750 new units since 2021. Was the premier misinformed or misinforming the people of Newfoundland and Labrador?"

Furey: "As I suggested, it's housing options. Some of them are direct new homes in terms of housing units. Some are shelters. Some are supportive units. This is a complex issue which deserves, frankly, all those buckets of help to help the people in these situations."

The premier and three different ministers answered the first 10 Tory questions about housing issues.

The minister responsible for housing wasn't one of them.

Finance Minister Siobhan Coady referred back to language used in the budget speech, about "more than 750 new housing options advanced since 2021."

Labrador Affairs Minister Lisa Dempster gave what she described as a "45-second history lesson" in reply, invoking the spectre of Muskrat Falls and Bill 29, which reduced access to government information.

Immigration, Population Growth and Skills Minister Gerry Byrne was critical of Opposition efforts to use the carbon tax as a "political attack strategy."

The housing minister picked up the gauntlet with the 11th questionand defended the government's record from there.

"We are making great inroads in housing in our province," Pike said, listing a number of social housing projects in the works.

He acknowledged that he "misspoke" in that interview in Gander a couple of weeks ago.

"It is accurate, as I've said before, that there are 750 new housing options out there," Pike said.

NDP asks if other statements were 'lies'

The NDP referenced past comments by the premier and finance minister on the topic, to suggest a broader pattern of questionable claims by the Liberal government.

"On Oct. 16 in the House of Assembly the premier stated, 'We introduced 750 new units that are currently being built,'" NDP Leader Jim Dinn noted.

"On Oct. 17, the premier stated we had 750 units started between 2021 and beyond, but we had 750 new units since 2021. In an Instagram video, the minister of finance stated, 'We've built 750 new affordable houses.' So I ask the premier, were these statements lies as well?"

Furey replied: "Of course we certainly meant housing options. Units and options can be interchangeable at times."

After question period, government House leader John Hogan asked Dinn to withdraw his comment that used the word "lie."

Dinn declined to retract it, and the Speaker indicated he would review what was said.

The NDP leader later told reporters he can't see himself withdrawing his remark, even if it is ruled out of order.

That sets the stage for Dinn to face a possible sanction from the Speaker next week.

But all that wasn't the end of the drama at the House of Assembly on Thursday.

The legislature closed nearly 2 hours early, after the government introduced a motion to adjourn.

Pike speaks with reporters

Meanwhile, the housing minister faced reporters, to further address what happened.

"I misspoke, and again, I wasn't trying to say that we were doing something that we weren't doing," Pike said. "That's not my character."

The minister stressed that the government is working to address housing issues head on.

"We are doing it as fast as humanly possible," Pike said.

"You can't build a house overnight."

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

But some of those units were announced 18 months ago, with no shovel in the ground yet is that a reasonable length of time, given what the premier has described as an acute crisis?

"We're behind the gun. But we are coming out swinging, and we are doing good things," Pike said. "We're doing great things for the province."

He noted that there can be issues with things like permittingbefore shovels hit the ground.

I knew I had made a mistake: Social development minister on housing flub

12 months ago

Duration 2:11

Social Development Minister Paul Pike faces reporters after CBC News revealed a major discrepancy in his statements on housing. The minister repeatedly claimed 750 new housing units had been built by the government, when only 11 have been completed.

On Tuesday, Pike suggested in an interview on CBC Radio's On The Go that all 107 social housing units announced since 2021 are finished.

"Our own housing, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, we've completed 107 of those units," the minister said Tuesday.

However, only 11 are available for families to live in. Dozens are planned for areas that, at this point, remain vacant fields.

On Thursday, Pike said he couldn't recall making that specific commentbut added "the process is complete to get them to move forward."

He stressed that he has no concerns about having a credibility problem in his role as minister.

"I just can't stop and dwell on these things. I've got to move forward. Because we've got to do this as quickly as possible."

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