A walk on Signal Hill

The more we discuss alternatives, the more we seem to return to the same old game that’s played with worn-out party logos behind which elites make the decisions.
The more we discuss alternatives, the more we seem to return to the same old game that’s played with worn-out party logos behind which elites make the decisions.
The events triggered by Covid-19 are diagnostic of fragile social arrangements that we have lacked the ability to discuss for
If Dwight Ball has learned anything amid all the turmoil and unrest of his first mandate, it’s that it can’t
Yesterday’s news is not the end of the world. But it's a small part of a larger process: our control
If you can afford to look at this budget in the abstract, you’re well off enough that you can pay a bigger share.
Newfoundland & Labrador will be clawing back income support from anyone who received CERB. Advocates fear this will increase poverty
The events triggered by Covid-19 are diagnostic of fragile social arrangements that we have lacked the ability to discuss for
With the premier out of the picture, it is harder to hide the hungry abyss at the heart of Newfoundland
A recent candidates’ debate for the federal riding of Avalon revealed just how entrenched sexism is in our political institutions, and how old boys’ clubs do no credit to anyone.
On February 1, former RCMP Constable Janet Merlo spoke to a packed gathering hosted by the Department of Gender Studies
How MUN’s reliance on contract labour is creating a hostile environment for female professors.
The recent "Google memo" reminds us that we need to start thinking about gender in STEM differently.
The government’s recent announcement it will privatize long-term care through public-private partnerships has the labour movement and both opposition parties crying foul, arguing people must come before profit.
The events triggered by Covid-19 are diagnostic of fragile social arrangements that we have lacked the ability to discuss for
Supporting a fiscally irresponsible P3 “solution” for wastewater defers true costs and make immediate budgets look more 'responsible.' Is that
The hospital’s projected opening in 2023 would come 16 years after it was announced for the first time as part
A little rant on floor crossing
In Labrador, the election fiasco adds another layer to the inequities imposed by a government founded on the denial of
Nature abhors a vacuum and when the attention economy is starved of real information it will begin to produce and
Last Wednesday, after a meeting with heads of government, health officials, police, and even the local fire department, Joe Dicker
Failure to allow debate and dialogue will have far greater consequences than this government realizes
In Labrador, the election fiasco adds another layer to the inequities imposed by a government founded on the denial of
This is a referendum on negotiating debt relief with the federal government. Your only choice is how much leeway to
So-called parachute candidates can be controversial, but they can also serve important functions—and even strengthen democracy.
Mumbo Jumbo and Fuddle Duddle – as synonyms go, here comes trouble! A column not in defense of the Muskrat Falls protesters in Lake Melville but in defense of decent dissent in politics – “I might not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll fight to the death your right to say it”
In Labrador, the election fiasco adds another layer to the inequities imposed by a government founded on the denial of
Nature abhors a vacuum and when the attention economy is starved of real information it will begin to produce and
Last Wednesday, after a meeting with heads of government, health officials, police, and even the local fire department, Joe Dicker
Brandon has a few insights into the Quebec election, how it could have been different, and the lessons we can learn from Quebec (and other mature democracies)
In Labrador, the election fiasco adds another layer to the inequities imposed by a government founded on the denial of
This is a referendum on negotiating debt relief with the federal government. Your only choice is how much leeway to
So-called parachute candidates can be controversial, but they can also serve important functions—and even strengthen democracy.
With two of the leading contenders for the leadership of the federal NDP party now saying that they do not support a Liberal / NDP merger at this time, the odds of the “unite-the-left” movement making headway anytime soon is now quite slim. “I’m firmly opposed to any talk of merger with the Liberals,” leadership hopeful Thomas Mulcair said on CTV’s Question Period this past Snday. Brian Topp, who is also running for leadership, said no to a merger now, saying the NDP “don’t have to become Liberals to win.” Read more at the National Post. Source: National Post
Question Period is like a soap opera, except about politics and with terrible pacing. Old storylines are picked up wherever
An interview with the 2016 N.L. Human Rights Award recipient.
An independent appointments commission, as it's currently proposed, will do more to mask existing problems than actually solve them.
The ballots have been counted and results are in. The PCs, as expected, won their third majority government in Newfoundland and Labrador by winning 37 seats (56% of the popular vote). The Liberal party made a gain of 2 seats to hold on to official opposition status by winning 6 seats in total (19% of the popular vote). The NDP made party history by winning 5 seats in total (and 25% of the popular vote). For a list of district-by-district winners for the 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial election, along with their share of the vote, click here. Kathy Dunderdale becomes the first woman elected Premier in Newfoundland and Labrador’s history, and the 2nd ever in Canada.
An interview with the 2016 N.L. Human Rights Award recipient.
Independent MHA Paul Lane speaks out on the ways consensus is formed and decisions are made in N.L. politics, disrupting
An independent appointments commission, as it's currently proposed, will do more to mask existing problems than actually solve them.
Some post-election thoughts from Kieran Hanley
I’m beginning to think the patient is better off living in his fantasy. After I hear about New Year's 2018
All Townie MHAs receive rural reeducation as the Baymen seize power in Newfoundland & Labrador. Meanwhile, a meal of Chow
Case study: Patient has moved from a depression over the loss of rural life to an hallucinatory state in which
On the cusp of Voting Day, a final analysis of the 2011 General Election…
Find out where candidates stand on issues including the province’s changing demographics, paths forward for its troubled economy, climate change,
“The one thing citizens deserve is a more honest assessment of what the future in the province holds, and what
With so much so much at stake, shrouded in so much secrecy, spread out across unruly social media platforms, chaos
Newfoundland and Labrador is entering its final full week of its provincial election campaign, and VOCM is giving an update on where the leaders will be today. PC Leader Kathy Dunderdale will begin this week’s campaign in St. John’s with a visit to the Independent Living Resource Centre on Escasoni Place. She’s then heading off to the west coast where she will campaign with Wally Young in Rocky Harbour and Darryl Kelly in Deer Lake. Liberal Leader Kevin Aylward is focusing his energies today in St. George’s-Stephenville East where he’s hoping to win back the district he held for 18 years away from incumbent, Joan Burke. NDP Leader Lorraine Michael is making an announcement this morning at 11 at her campaign office concerning the 2014 Health Accord. Michael will be joined by Megan Leslie, the NDP MP for Halifax. Stay tuned this week for TheIndependent.ca’s review of the three political…
"It’s very difficult for some people to recognize that we all have a master, and we all have a slave.
I’m beginning to think the patient is better off living in his fantasy. After I hear about New Year's 2018
All Townie MHAs receive rural reeducation as the Baymen seize power in Newfoundland & Labrador. Meanwhile, a meal of Chow
“I think the minister is denying the fact that we do have a mess and when I say that it’s not my word people inside the health care system are continually saying to me: our health care system is a mess,” said NDP Lorraine Michael during yesterday’s debate on the health care system. Michael, who believes there are major problems with our system, is calling for a full independent review of it. Health Minister Jerome Kennedy says an independent review would inevitably lead to recommendations that rural services should be cut. “There was an external review done in 2004 and if we had followed the recommendations at that time then there would be no rural health care left,” said Kennedy. “I really don’t know why Ms. Michael believes a review today would be any different … They’ll try to streamline and create efficiencies,” he said. “I can predict that that’s…
Far from being a "great equalizer," Covid-19 is exposing the deeper inequities in our healthcare systems and the populations they
I’m beginning to think the patient is better off living in his fantasy. After I hear about New Year's 2018
All Townie MHAs receive rural reeducation as the Baymen seize power in Newfoundland & Labrador. Meanwhile, a meal of Chow
Liberal, NDP, and PC plans for Newfoundland and Labrador post October 11
In Labrador, the election fiasco adds another layer to the inequities imposed by a government founded on the denial of
Nature abhors a vacuum and when the attention economy is starved of real information it will begin to produce and
Last Wednesday, after a meeting with heads of government, health officials, police, and even the local fire department, Joe Dicker
Barring a monumental collapse in support, the party will be just fine heading into their 3rd consecutive majority government.
Back in the spring of 2009 there was a committee meeting. According to the meeting notes, members of the Police
In 2010, when Colliers International was listing the Battery Hotel and Suites for $15 million, they dared buyers to imagine
Those who assembled on Saturday in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en are among thousands taking part in ongoing blockades and demonstrations across
Liberal Leader Kevin Aylward has promised to provide a one-time increase to public sector pensioners of 2.5 per cent, and then make annual increases equivalent to the Consumer Price Index up to 2 per cent. Currently, the public service pensions are not indexed. Aylward was speaking to a rally organized by the members of the Public Sector Pensioners Association, who had congregated at the Confederation Building. The association has had a lengthy battle with government to get an increase for public service pensioners but has been unable to secure extra funding. “Healthy pension plans for all retirees is a critical part of supporting the seniors of our province,” said Aylward. Source: CBC
The more we discuss alternatives, the more we seem to return to the same old game that’s played with worn-out
If you can afford to look at this budget in the abstract, you’re well off enough that you can pay
A recent candidates' debate for the federal riding of Avalon revealed just how entrenched sexism is in our political institutions,
The Opposition is questioning an independent report which has given the Muskrat Falls development the thumbs-up. Liberal Leader Kevin Aylward says there was a flaw in the mandate of the report: Navigant (the consultant) was commissioned to look at what Nalcor has already done, and Aylward says Nalcor has only considered one option. If they form the government, Aylward says the Liberals will halt the spending, stop the contracts and set-up an independent process to look at all of the power options. Meanwhile Nalcor CEO Ed Martin says Navigant looked at the same alternative energy options as Nalcor did. He says Navigant came in to try and find something wrong, and they didn’t. Source: VOCM
If Andrew Furey wants to sell himself as a political leader who can make tough decisions in these difficult times,
With the premier out of the picture, it is harder to hide the hungry abyss at the heart of Newfoundland
In his own words, Dwight Ball reflects on his resignation, achievements, and legacy as the 13th Premier of Newfoundland and
TheIndependent.ca counts down the weeks to the provincial election with a quick’n’dirty roundup of what’s happening on the campaign trails…
In Labrador, the election fiasco adds another layer to the inequities imposed by a government founded on the denial of
Nature abhors a vacuum and when the attention economy is starved of real information it will begin to produce and
Last Wednesday, after a meeting with heads of government, health officials, police, and even the local fire department, Joe Dicker
A newly released poll pegs PC support in Newfoundland and Labrador at 54 percent of voter support, while the NDP were up to 24 percent from 20 percent some months ago; the Liberal Party remained at 22 percent. The poll was conducted between Aug. 15 — the day after Kevin Aylward was appointed leader of the Liberal party — and Aug. 31, the last day of a string of high-profile spending announcements that the governing Tories have made this summer. Premier and PC leader Kathy Dunderdale was pleased with the numbers, as was NDP’s Lorraine Michael whose party moved into 2nd place for the first time. Liberal leader Aylward took the poll results in stride, saying that the Liberals intend to fight for every seat in the province. “This means to me that there is work to do, but I can say this with the candidates that we have now…
I’m beginning to think the patient is better off living in his fantasy. After I hear about New Year's 2018
All Townie MHAs receive rural reeducation as the Baymen seize power in Newfoundland & Labrador. Meanwhile, a meal of Chow
Case study: Patient has moved from a depression over the loss of rural life to an hallucinatory state in which