Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Budget 2026

A Plan for All of Us

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When we support people, we help create stronger, more inclusive communities. Budget 2026 reflects our commitment to well-being and opportunity for all of us.

Supporting Seniors

Creating the foundation for services and supports that meet the needs of seniors and those who care for them, Budget 2026 includes:

  • A 20 per cent increase to the Seniors’ Benefit, benefitting nearly 50,000 seniors.
  • Over $47 million to increase long-term care capacity and reduce pressure on hospitals by creating more than 200 new beds. This includes 45 new long-term care beds in Corner Brook, 54 new long-term care beds in Clarenville, 20 transitional and alternate level of care beds in both Grand Falls-Windsor and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
  • A $12.7 million investment to support the self-managed care workforce, increasing their wages by $2 per hour.
  • A $4.9 million increase in funding for the personal care home sector to address rising costs. This includes support for direct care staff in the form of a subsidy increase of 2 per cent for inflationary support and a wage rate increase of $0.85 per hour.
  • $4 million for the planning and construction of new long-term care beds at Valley Vista Seniors Home in Springdale and Labrador West.
  • $2.7 million to help build capacity for up to 255 beds for enhanced dementia care and restorative and rehabilitative care in personal care homes.
  • Continued support for healthy aging and social inclusion with age and dementia-friendly communities, community transportation, and seniors’ social inclusion programs.

Building a More Inclusive Newfoundland and Labrador

Putting people first by strengthening families, supporting vulnerable people, and investing in community-driven services, Budget 2026 includes:

  • Establishment of an independent Office of the Disability Advocate to strengthen supports for persons with disabilities.
  • Increasing core funding for the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities from $34,000 to $50,000.

Creating Safe and Affordable Housing

Giving more people the opportunity to have a safe and suitable home, Budget 2026 invests $125 million, including:

  • $7.3 million annualized to upgrade the homeowner support programs by reducing unnecessary red tape, doubling grant funding, increasing lifetime funding, and reducing wait times to reapply.
  • $4 million for approximately 500 additional Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Benefits, helping more low-income families afford rent and reducing Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s waitlist by approximately 20 per cent.
  • $1.3 million annually for operations of the recently opened Mercy House at the Gathering Place, which provides transitional and supportive housing to help lift people out of the cycle of homelessness.
  • $10.4 million for transition houses, an increase of $1.2 million to help women and children fleeing violence.
  • $23 million for the emergency shelter system.

Labrador

Reducing the cost of air travel to, from and within Labrador will make life more affordable for Labradorians. Budget 2026 includes:

  • $2.7 million to extend the Labrador Air Access Program Pilot to March 31, 2027, and to conduct a comprehensive review of air affordability and service sustainability in Labrador to further understand what influences high costs in Labrador.
  • Approximately $19 million to enable 100 per cent coverage of eligible medical travel costs. This includes $3.7 million in new funding.
  • $10.5 million to support Labrador West in their application to the federal Build Canada Homes initiative for the construction of new seniors’ housing.
  • Doubling the Labrador Transportation Grooming Subsidy to $1.1 million for the grooming and maintenance of approximately 870 kilometres of winter trails to ensure safe, reliable travel for isolated Labrador communities.
  • $4.2 million for a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Protecting People, Supporting Healing

Investing in community partnerships and survivor- centred supports that improve safety, equity, and healing. By supporting grassroots organizations and municipal, regional, and Indigenous partners, we are helping community-led solutions reach underserved and rural areas. Budget 2026 includes:

  • Strengthening our partnerships with Indigenous Governments, Organizations and families to advance truth, healing, safety, and justice for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
  • Continuation of reconciliation and action, including the work of the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council, ensuring Indigenous-led voices guide responses to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
  • Strengthening support networks, trauma-informed services, leadership development for women, girls, Indigenous peoples, gender diverse people, and community-led prevention programs.