Warm temperatures, sandy beaches and a fruity tropical beverage. That might be what comes to mind when thinking about cruise-ship options. However, a group of sea-going travellers made Corner Brook a port of call today for a very different reason. NTV’s Don Bradshaw explains.

Today at the House of Assembly, NDP leader Jim Dinn asked the province if it has considered removing the HST on home heating fuels to address residents’ concerns about increases in their Newfoundland Power bills. 

The new Churchill Falls agreement is exactly the kind of project and partnership Canada needs right now and into the future.

So says the CEO of Hydro-Québec, who was in Churchill Falls for the first time today to tour the town and massive generating station run by NL Hydro.

Questions about the MOU, in light of tariff tensions with the U.S., were addressed and dismissed during a virtual media briefing with Hydro-Québec‘s Michael Sabia and NL Hydro CEO Jennifer Williams.

Sabia was asked whether the continued uncertainty could impact construction or possibly completion of the project.

CEOs Williams and Sabia on tour. (Courtesy NL Hydro)

“This agreement is, in my opinion, a powerful example of exactly the kinds of things that we in Canada now need to do, that we need to step up, launch big ideas, secure our future as an independent, prosperous country, and not succumb to the unfounded threats coming from Washington.

“So, if anything, I would say what has happened recently in the United States does nothing but enhance our resolve to make this agreement a reality.”

Both Sabia and Williams insisted completion of the definitive agreements is still on schedule for April of next year.

“It is on track, full speed ahead, and it will be delivered,” said Sabia, adding he also believes 100 per cent that Gull Island will be developed.

NDP Leader Jim Dinn says the high cost of home heating is forcing many residents to make difficult decisions. To help solve the issue, he is asking the Liberal government to remove the provincial portion of the harmonized sales tax from home heating bills.

Sitting on the doorstep of the Churchill Falls megaproject, Hydro-Québec CEO Michael Sabia and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro CEO Jennifer Williams said talks to formalize a new 50-year deal on Churchill Falls power is full speed ahead.

The MP for Labrador says people in this province have yet to be able to put their finger on positive changes in the health care system despite an infusion of $2 billion to the provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador.

Yvonne Jones, who is not running for re-election, is well familiar with the health care system after beating two bouts of cancer.

The federal government topped up transfer payments in 2023, but it came with no strings attached.

The provinces are responsible for delivering health care but Ottawa sets standards and provides funding required to run the system.

Jones says people are not seeing the tangible impact from the $300 million NL got from Ottawa.

She would like to see “more insight, more vision and more incorporation of technology” so that people feel they are getting the service they need and expect.

About 20 per cent of people in Atlantic Canada say they feel overwhelmed by their debt load.

That’s according to a new poll conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the accounting firm MNP.

Greg Gosse, a licensed insolvency trustee with the firm, says while that number is a slight improvement from previous months, the overall debt load in the region appears to be increasing.

Gosse says the strain of the current fiscal situation is evident in the conversations he has with people daily.

He says many are often stressed out to the point that it is causing them physical problems, avoiding phone calls, and feeling like they cannot openly talk with friends about their issues.

Fiscally, Gosse says many are only paying minimum payments on credit cards, trying to find quick financing options, with no clear path to get out of their situation.

A transitional housing facility near the airport in St. John’s is now fully staffed as it nears the end of its first full winter in operation.

Horizons 106, the former Comfort Inn, can house up to about 100 people, but also provides many other components than just lodging.

The executive director of End Homelessness St. John’s, Doug Pawson, says they’re well on the back side of start-up mode and making plans for outdoor events once the weather improves.

End Homelessness St. John’s executive director Doug Pawson. (File/VOCM News)

Pawson says they know the spotlight is on them as some in the neighborhood have complained of increased criminal activity.

But Pawson says the number of calls to the RNC do not bare that out, adding they will be having events designed to integrate into the community.

“We’ll have things like community cleanups and barbeques so that folks feel more integrated into the community and we can reduce the stigma,” he says.

“We’re all neighbors.”

The Royal Canadian Legion is offering a reminder to those interested in shopping and dining local.

Canadians have embraced a “shop local” mindset in light of the tariff threats and “51st state” musings of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Legions across the country have been reminding Canadians that they’ve been there all along, and are hoping to see an uptick in business with a sudden surge of patriotism among local consumers.

Jenn Deon of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56 in Pleasantville notes they support the work and memory of veterans.

She says the Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit which exists to promote remembrance and to honour Canadian veterans, and to serve the community.

In May 2023, areas along the Bonavista Peninsula were taken over by Apple TV crews to create the run-down town of Salt's Neck for the television show Severance. Edith Sampson, executive director of the Sir William Ford Coaker Heritage Foundation, helped crews find locations and was there during the filming process.

It’s official.

Former longtime provincial MHA and cabinet minister Tom Osborne will be seeking the federal Liberal nomination in the riding of Cape Spear.

Osborne first announced he was contemplating the move just over a week ago.

He says the decision was made after a lot of contemplation and speaking with family, friends and supporters.

Osborne states Canada is facing some significant challenges, particularly when it comes to the United States, and he believes his background would help the country tackle some of those issues.

Provincially, he says he worked on some of the most challenging portfolios in the most challenging times. He says taking on those challenges doesn’t phase him, adding Ottawa needs someone who won’t be “rocked” by the challenges before them, and will work toward solutions.

Osborne retired last summer after nearly 30 years as an MHA.

Newfoundland and Labrador's top doctor is encouraging people to roll up their sleeves and get immunized against measles, as cases of the highly infectious virus spike across the world.

Mark Carney won the federal Liberal leadership race in a landslide victory on Sunday, and a Memorial University political scientist believes there could be a shakeup as the party changes course.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has made a swift call for new federal Liberal leader and prime minister-designate Mark Carney to make good on his promise to eliminate the consumer carbon tax.

Carney won his party’s leadership in a landslide on Sunday.

He has said he will eliminate the carbon tax, as well as changes to the capital gains tax.

Kris Sims, the Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says Carney must make good on his carbon tax promise “immediately.”

He says that is a change that needs no legislative amendments, and can be done even while Parliament is prorogued.

Sims is calling for the tax to be eliminated before the next scheduled increase on April 1st, adding Canadians “cannot afford to pay this carbon tax for a minute longer.”

Dancing involves a lot of physical touch, and a lot of vulnerability, which can be intimidating for trans people who are nervous about their bodies. So Gender Journeys set up a safe space at MUN to teach them how to boogie.

The Official Opposition is looking for answers after they say an internal memo from NL Health Services reveals a $50-million reduction in healthcare spending.

PC Leader Tony Wakeham first raised the issue in the Legislature last week, citing the memo that indicates NLHS has been given a $50-million savings target for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

(PC Leader Tony Wakeham)

Wakeham asked how many procedures have been postponed as a result.

Acting Health Minister John Haggie responded that there have been no cuts or proposed cuts to frontline services. In fact, he says healthcare spending has increased year-over-year, adding that the health authority is $200 million over-budget.

Haggie said the $50-million reduction is related to finding efficiencies from the amalgamation of the four former health authorities into one.

“In actual fact, as far as surgical procedures are concerned, I do believe there’s been a nearly 30 per cent increase in the number of surgeries done in the last 12 months.”

There is still no timeline on when a grounded cargo ship in the Bay of Islands will be removed.

First, salvagers have to remove fuel and cargo from the Baltic III, by no means a simple task.

Kris Drodge, a master mariner at the Marine Institute, says having the ship’s on-board cranes operational is a positive.

A request to fix up a road in the area to allow shore access is also awaiting approval.

The owner of the Baltic III, Mediterranean Shipping Company, has hired T&T Salvage out of the U.S., and Eastern Canada Response Corporation to help reduce the environmental impact.

The ship’s owner and its insurers will pay for the response and removal of the vessel.

Drodge says the challenges are immense to get the vessel in a position to refloat.

“So there are lots of options here but I don’t think refloating and getting it off right now is even in the cards,” he said.

The Burin Peninsula EverWind Green Fuels Project has advanced in the assessment process.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Lisa Dempster has approved the guidelines for the preparation of the environmental impact.

EverWind Green Fuels is proposing to construct and operate on the Burin Peninsula, a 10 gigawatt onshore wind project consisting of three wind farms with up to 1500 turbines; three solar farms with a total of total capacity of 2.5 GW; and a 5.5 GW hydrogen/ammonia production facility north of the Town of Marystown.

There are some changes in place with the Job Vacancy Assessment and Atlantic Immigration Program designation processes.

Employers will no longer be granted pre-approval for a specific number of economic immigration spaces. Employers may still indicate their hiring needs for one year. Additionally, occupations approved under both processes will be valid for a one-year period. Employers must choose to apply for either a Job Vacancy Assessment or Atlantic Immigration Program designation when seeking to hire for a particular occupation. Employers can no longer use both processes to hire for the same occupation.

Additionally, all new applications for these designations will be assessed based on prioritizing in-demand occupations, supporting businesses operating in rural areas, evaluating an employer’s track record in retaining international hires through provincial immigration programs, aligning hiring requests with the company’s size and operations, and ensuring employers are providing adequate levels of settlement supports for their prospective newcomer hires.

A cruise ship is expected to visit Corner Brook today.

The Le Commandant Charcot operated by Ponant Cruises is expected to arrive in port at 9:00 a.m. this morning and will depart at 6:00 p.m.

The ship carries 245 passengers and 235 crew.

The CEOs of NL Hydro and Hydro-Quebec will hold a joint news conference today from Churchill Falls.

Teams from both organizations, including NL Hydro CEO Jennifer Williams and Hydro-Quebec CEO Michael Sabia, are in town as part of MOU discussions. They will also be touring the town and facility.

The joint news conference is being held virtually at 3 p.m.

This will be Sabia’s first time speaking in the province since the MOU was signed in December.

VOCM News will be on the call.

Along the west and south coasts, roads are partly snow-covered. Elsewhere on the island, roads are bare and dry with a few icy patches.

Across Labrador, roads are snow-covered with icy and slushy patches with good visibility.

Marine Atlantic customers are advised of potential schedule impacts today and tomorrow. Customers with reservations will be contacted directly about any impacts to bookings. Ferries in the provincial network are not reporting any delays.

At St. John’s International Airport, Porter flights 239 and 298 along with PAL Airlines Flight 901 are delayed. In Deer Lake, Provincial Airlines Flight 901 is delayed.

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien cracked a few jokes, but had a stern message for U.S. President Donald Trump during his speech at the Liberal leadership election ceremony.

“From one old guy to another old guy, stop this nonsense.”

Chrétien spoke out against Trump’s tactics which he says is dividing the “long and fruitful” relationship between Canada and our neighbours south of the border.

In reference to Trump’s repeated calls to make Canada the 51st state, the former PM offered the president a history lesson from the American Revolution.

“In 1776, Benjamin Franklin spent a year in Montreal trying to convince the people to join the American Revolution, and he was told by the Francophone ‘non, merci’.”

Chrétien joked that Trump should be recognized with the Order of Canada because of how united citizens have become in standing against him.

Good Monday morning!

Today, we can expect quiet weather across most of Newfoundland and Labrador. The only action will be flurries and pockets of light snow along the West Coast from near Bay St. George to Port au Choix. Late in the day, there will be some light snow closer to the northern areas of the Northern Penisula, northwestward into the southern portion of Labrador’s coast from Cartwright to the eastern side of the Straits. Only a few centimeters of snow are expected, at most, leading us to a quiet day ahead.

Expect a chilly day, with highs on the Island remaining near, or a few degrees below, freezing. Labrador will see highs between -10º and -16º. The coolest readings will be found in the north and west. It will feel colder with the wind chill, but the wind will not be a huge factor for most areas today. The northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula and Labrador’s southern coast will see gusty wind speeds later this afternoon into this evening, with gusts nearing 60 to 70 km/h. Outside of these areas, abnormally high wind speeds aren’t expected.

There will be a decent mix of sun and cloud across much of the Island today, except west and northwest, where clouds will be more of the rule. The same goes for the bulk of Labrador, where primarily cloudy skies will be the rule rather than the exception.

Some light snow will move into Labrador West Tuesday evening and spread eastward Tuesday night and Wednesday. Wednesday, light snowfall will be seen over much of the Big Land, while areas of rain and snow will be found over the Island. I will have more details on this later today, but this will not be a major weather-maker for the region.

On Sunday evening RNC officers responded to a call of a male checking vehicles on Baltimore Street in St. John’s.

Police located a 36-year-old man who is well known to police for rummaging through vehicles.

Although police were unable to arrest the man for the event, he was on a court-issued curfew to not be outside his residence after 9:00 p.m.

As a result, he was arrested and taken to the lockup.

Those in the food, drink, accommodations and tourism industries gather in St. John’s this week for their 2025 conference and trade show.

The event, which begins tomorrow at the newly-expanded JAG Hotel downtown, brings together tourism operators, industry stakeholders, and experts from across the province and beyond.

Guest speakers include Premier Andrew Furey, MPs Gudie Hutchings and Joanne Thompson, and an expert on digital transformation and innovation in the tourism sector.

Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, the host organization, says the trade show component will showcase the latest products, services and innovations.

On Sunday the Newfoundland Rogues scored a trifecta of wins against the Tri-City Tide at the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s. 

The Rogues took the game by a score of 128 to 82.

Next Saturday the Rogues will be on the road and with take on the Sudbury Five.

Metro police were busy yesterday afternoon after separate incidents at two homes in the centre city area that resulted in minor injuries to two people.

RNC were called to a home just before 1:30 after a person was attacked with an edged weapon.

A 20-year-old woman was arrested on charges of assault with an edged weapon and assault causing bodily harm.

She was held for court.

Around 2:00 p.m., RNC rushed to another home in the centre city area after someone called police saying they were assaulted.

A 30-year-old man who was known to the victim was arrested and charged with assault, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, and property damage.

He was taken to the lockup to appear in court.

Brad Gushue had the match in his hands but fell just short against Brad Jacobs in the Brier semi-final.

His last shot would have given the six-time Brier champ a chance to go for a record seventh, but it was not to be. The Jacobs rink went on to defeat Matt Dunstone 5-3 in the final shot in the championship match.

Team Gushue will now have to compete to represent Team NL at next year’s Brier in St. John’s.

A Harbour Grace woman, who has seen her power bill balloon in recent months, says she wants to see Newfoundland Power held accountable by Newfoundland and Labrador's Public Utilities Board.

Video revealing several ocean sites with old aquaculture equipment has prompted the provincial fisheries minister to order a clean up

Its beige bricks are meant to represent the barrens, while its roof is described as ‘dogberry red.’ Curator Mireille Eagan describes how the designers of The Rooms aimed to incorporate Newfoundland and Labrador culture into every aspect of the building.

A man was shot near the White House by the Secret Service after brandishing a firearm during a suicide attempt. The man's identity and condition remain undisclosed, and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the incident. President Trump was away during the shooting. (UPI)

A 16-year-old girl who went missing was found dismembered in a dumpster in Florida. The suspects, Steven Gress and Michelle Brandes, allegedly lured Miranda Corsette through a dating app. Corsette's grandmother reported her missing, and police revealed she had previous runaway incidents. (CBS News)

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered the CDC to study whether vaccines cause autism, despite decades of existing studies already proving there is no link. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon confirmed the effort in a statement over the weekend, saying the agency plans to leave "no stone unturned." (ABC News)

Israel's Energy Minister ordered an immediate cut-off of electricity to Gaza, with critics decrying the impact on civilians and calling it a violation of obligations. Some groups dismiss the move as a political ploy. The decision adds to the uncertainty in Gaza post-ceasefire, with fears of further aid cuts and service disruptions. (UPI)

President Trump defended repeatedly imposing and then rolling back tariffs on Mexico and Canada, causing economic uncertainty. He says he can't predict if his erratic policies will cause a recession, but insists "there is a period of transition, because what we're doing is very big. We're bringing wealth back to America." (NPR)

Mark Carney decisively won the Liberal leadership Sunday on the first ballot with 85.9 per cent of the points.

The former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England is now prime minister-designate, and will formally succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister in the coming days. Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland was second with 8 per cent, former government House leader Karina Gould was third with 3.2 per cent, and businessman Frank Baylis was fourth with 3 per cent.

It was a landslide victory for Mark Carney, who will be the new Prime Minister of Canada.

He had almost 86 per cent of the vote in a first-ballot victory over the other three contestents.

Carney becomes the 24th Prime Minister of Canada at a time when the world is in economic turmoil because of Donald Trump’s tariffs.

In his victory speech, Carney paid tribute to outgoing PM Justin Trudeau saying that he has guided us through some of the most difficult times ever.

He says he will work day and night with the purpose of building a stronger Canada.

There were no serious injuries to report following two separate collisions within a short distance from one another on Sunday afternoon.

At about 1:30 p.m. emergency crews were called to the intersection of Thorburn Road and Goldstone Street after two vehicles were involved in a head-on collision in the intersection. Both vehicles sustained extensive damage. The crash slowed traffic in all directions for close to an hour, until the scene could be cleared.

Shortly before 4:00 p.m. crews responded to a second collision, at the intersection of Thorburn Road and Prince Philip Drive. Both vehicles involved in that collision sustained moderate damage. Again, traffic was slowed for a while until the scene could be cleared.

In each incident, one person was assessed by paramedics at the scene, reportedly suffering minor injuries. It was not immediately known if anyone was taken to hospital.

Team Gushue’s quest for a fourth consecutive Brier title and seventh overall fell short Sunday after they lost in the semifinal Sunday.

Playing as Team Canada, the Gushue rink lost 7-5 to Brad Jacob’s Alberta rink. It ends a remarkable run for Team Gushue after winning the last three Briers in a row. But the team will aim to return to the top of the podium on home ice next year when the 2026 Brier is played in St. John’s.

Team Jacobs will now face Manitoba’s Team Dunstone in the Brier final Sunday night.