St. John’s, N.L. (March 18, 2025) – Joedy Wall, Progressive Conservative Shadow Minister for Housing and MHA for Cape St. Francis, is raising concerns over the recent sale of the former Airport Inn.

Wall reacted to confirmation that the property, located at 106 Airport Road, has been sold to out-of-province investors. The building had been leased by the Liberal government for $7 million a year, with the total operational cost of the transitional housing facility reaching $13 million annually.

“The Liberals signed a sole-source, three-year contract to lease this building from their friends with a blank cheque,” said Wall. “Now, just over a year later, the owners have apparently flipped the property for a substantial windfall.”

Wall pointed to published reports indicating the property was valued at just $3.7 million. Meanwhile, the government lease, worth $21 million over three years, significantly increased the property's value before its sale.

“The Liberals never issued a public call for proposals,” added Wall. “They leased this hotel with no plan, no housing staff, and left it sitting empty for months until a non-profit operator stepped in. Now, the property has been sold for a windfall. Why didn’t the government just purchase it outright last year? Did they even attempt to buy it now?”

Wall also linked the sale to a pattern of questionable and disturbing Liberal transactions, referencing the recent Snow’s Lane land sale and the Kenmount Crossing land donation, which cost taxpayers $23 million.

“It’s time for a new Wakeham PC government, one that will be open and transparent with taxpayers’ money. These secret deals with Liberal friends must stop.”