Latest news with #NewfoundlandLabrador
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
One departed minister received now-cancelled cabinet cash allowance, premier's office says
Andrew Parsons left provincial politics in May, after serving as an MHA since 2011 and a cabinet minister since 2015. (Mike Simms/CBC - image credit) One now-retired politician availed of a new transitional allowance for outgoing cabinet ministers that was rescinded hours after being revealed by CBC News on Friday. Late Tuesday afternoon, the premier's office confirmed details of payments made under the now-cancelled policy. Those details were first reported by the business and political news website allNewfoundlandLabrador. Former energy minister Andrew Parsons "resigned while the policy was in place and has therefore received the cabinet transitional allowance," Sonja Pomeroy, a spokesperson for the premier's office, wrote in an emailed statement. ADVERTISEMENT Parsons would have been eligible for an allowance payment of around $37,000. According to Pomeroy, former premier Andrew Furey "has not received the cabinet transitional allowance and has asked that he not receive it." He had been eligible under the policy. Neither Parsons nor Furey has provided comment. Policy rescinded hours after airing of CBC report On Friday morning, CBC News revealed that the provincial cabinet had quietly approved a new transitional allowance policy for departing ministers, which came into effect April 1. It provided one month's ministerial salary for each year of service in cabinet, on a prorated basis, for a minimum of three months and a maximum of 12 months. For ministers, that worked out to a minimum payout of around $12,000, up to the full annual salary of $48,664. John Hogan left cabinet in March to run for the provincial Liberal leadership. He won, and was sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador's 15th premier in May. (Mark Quinn/CBC) The revelation of the new payment to outgoing cabinet ministers, approved just months before an election, generated immediate public controversy. Six current cabinet ministers have indicated they plan to retire when voters go to the polls. ADVERTISEMENT On Friday afternoon, Premier John Hogan announced that cabinet had met and decided to "immediately rescind" the policy, which had never been publicly disclosed. Hogan stressed that he was not in cabinet when the policy was approved, and was not involved in that decision. In an open letter to Hogan on Monday, Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham was skeptical about that explanation. "Setting aside how difficult it is to believe that the public service would not brief a new premier on issues of compensation for cabinet, your statement raises more questions than it provides answers," Wakeham wrote. The PC leader said any cabinet minister who voted to approve the allowance should be removed from the Liberal slate of candidates in the coming election. PC Leader Tony Wakeham, left, and NDP Leader Jim Dinn have both been sharply critical of the now-cancelled allowance for departing ministers and how it has been handled. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC) Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jim Dinn called on Hogan to disclose exactly who supported the decision. ADVERTISEMENT "None of these ministers are living paycheque to paycheque," Dinn said in a press release Tuesday. "To make such a selfish decision after hearing firsthand how much people are struggling is nothing short of greed." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Coast guard searching water off N.L. for woman who went missing on ferry
The new Marine Atlantic ferry, Blue Puttees, at dock in St. John's on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly CHANNEL-PORT AUX BASQUES — A search is underway for a 41-year-old woman who went missing on a ferry travelling between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. RCMP say the woman was last seen around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday on board the Marine Atlantic Blue Puttees sailing from North Sydney, N.S., to Port aux Basques, N.L. A spokesperson for the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax says searchers believe the woman may have fallen off the ship. Lt.-Cmdr. Len Hickey says a Hercules plane, Cormorant helicopter, and a civilian aircraft searched the water south of Port aux Basques on Wednesday, and a coast guard vessel was dispatched to retrace the ferry's route. Hickey says the RCMP searched the ferry extensively upon arrival in Port aux Basques and did not find the woman. He says a Hercules aircraft and a coast guard ship remain in the immediate search area off Port aux Basques, but deteriorating visibility is becoming a concern for searchers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025 The Canadian Press
CBC
17-07-2025
- CBC
Step inside the first hearing circle of the Innu Inquiry into the child protection system
The first hearing circle of the public inquiry into Innu in the child protection system began last week in Natuashish. The first investigation focuses on James Poker, who froze to death when he was just 17 years old. The CBC's Heather Gillis brings us inside the hearing.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfire on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula destroys unknown number of cabins
Newfoundland & Labrador's provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday, July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld CHANCE HARBOUR — Newfoundland and Labrador's forest fire duty officer says a wildfire on the Bonavista Peninsula has destroyed an unknown number of cabins in the area. Mark Lawlor says the fire began Monday in a wooded area near Jamestown, N.L., and is estimated to be about 12.5 square kilometres in size. Lawlor says there was no evacuation order, but adds that emergency officials have asked cabin owners to leave and stay away. Lawlor says the nearby village of Jamestown is not currently in danger, because the fire is moving northeast away from the community. While the fire remains out of control, Lawlor says high humidity levels are slowing its growth. The fire duty officer says firefighters are attacking the blaze with help from helicopters and an air tanker dumping water. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025 The Canadian Press
CBC
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Money problems forcing N.L. Folks Arts Society, annual festival to likely shutter
Due to financial strain, the upcoming Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival will likely be the last, says board president Julie Vogt. (Mark Cumby/CBC) After nearly 50 years of highlighting the arts, along with traditional and folk music, the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival could be taking its final bow — along with the folk arts society that runs it. Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society board president Julie Vogt told CBC News financial constraints continue to hamper the effort this summer, and it's looking likely that year's festival will be the final one, and the society itself will also shutter. "I encourage everyone to allow us to go out with grace, get your tickets for this last folk festival. Remember all the wonderful feels that you've ever had and come celebrate with us because that's what it's going to be — a celebration," she told CBC News on Monday. The tipping point was missing out on a multi-year ArtsNL grant that the society had hoped to land to sustain its operation. In an email to members on Friday, Vogt wrote the new board found it highly unlikely it could raise an additional $75,000 to fill the gap left behind from the ArtsNL money. The board also assessed an "extremely low" probability that ticket sales for this year's festival would meet even a "modest budget." But this summer's event will go ahead as planned, running from July 11 to July 13 in Bannerman Park in downtown St. John's. Vogt said the society had a $140,000 fundraising goal, and landed just $8,000 short. "We were that close," she said. The festival itself costs about $192,000 to pull off. That's before a ticket is sold or performers are paid. The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society could likely shut down after this year's festival. (Submitted by Alick Tsui) Vogt said she's disappointed the festival couldn't reach its 50th year, and big plans were in the making. "It's gut-wrenching, but we are going to give you the best folk festival we can with the small number of people that we have to do it," she said. Vogt also offered reassurance that performers scheduled to perform will be paid and the festival will be the same festival people are familiar with. As for the future, Vogt said there would need to be a miracle to keep the society and festival going, such as an angel investor and support from the public. While small donations are welcomed, she encouraged people to buy tickets for this year's event, too. It's not the first time the society and its festival have been on shaky ground. In January, then-president Deborah Coombs announced temporary layoffs of five staffers due to rising costs having an impact on the bottom line. Members of the Salt Beef Junkies are hoping enough people buy tickets to keep the festival alive. (CBC) Then, Vogt revealed in March, the festival was in danger of closing due to heavy financial strain, as the 2024 event left the society with over $100,000 in debt . In response, the society appealed to the public to help raise funds, and launched a "Save our Festival" campaign. In April Vogt said $23,000 was raised, the 2025 event would go ahead and they were pursuing more corporate sponsorships. Youth programming impacted The society also has youth programs that support young people interested in traditional music. Those include members of the musical trio the Salt Beef Junkies, who learned to play from older mentors through the society's Young Folk at the Hall program. "That's the sad part about this news, about today, is that well, it's been our childhood," Ty Simms told CBC News on Monday. "That's how a lot of young musicians get their first big gig in Newfoundland." The trio is opening up the festival on the main stage this year, and are hoping they can draw enough people to keep the society alive. "Hopefully more funding does come, because the Folk Festival is probably one of the best festivals in the province," said accordion player Luke Mercer. Simms said the festival helps keep young people interested in Newfoundland music. "If you have kids, if you have even teenagers, who are looking into new music or even just want to come hear in Newfoundland music … go support the Newfoundland Folk Festival." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page
