The Opposition is seeking answers from government about the recent resignation of Bern Coffey, and his role surrounding the Churchill Falls agreement.

The Liberals say Coffey was part of the negotiating team, however the provincial government says he only provided legal advice to the negotiating team.

According to the province, Coffey – a lawyer and former Liberal leadership candidate – notified the Clerk of the Executive Council on September 13th that he was ending his contract with the provincial government.

The province previously indicated that Coffey was providing legal advice to the negotiating team, along with Jerome Kennedy, a former member of the Danny Williams government.

The Opposition is accusing government of a lack of transparency on what it calls a “changing story.”

The Liberal Party says Coffey was a “key advisor” on Churchill Falls, who “participated with the negotiating team in technical briefings following the August 17 announcement.”

The Opposition contends that Coffey then resigned the day before debate on the new deal in the House of Assembly due to what they’ve since learned was discontent.

Leader John Hogan says government has to explain.

Hogan says the premier is saying Bern Coffey’s term was done but “if his term was done, why is Mr. Kennedy still there? They were hired at the same time for the same role.”

“A lot of questions, one person can certainly clear this up. If the premier doesn’t have these answers…Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should be worried, and he should get the answers and….tell Newfoundlanders and Labradorians exactly what’s happening.”

Rain, Cold Temperatures Making for Treacherous Driving on Isthmus

Heavy water build up and extremely slippery conditions are believed to be contributing factors in two accidents on the Trans Canada Highway over the lunch hour.

Emergency responders were first called to the scene of a single vehicle rollover on the TCH about 5 km west of the Long Harbour / Chapel Arm turnoff.

A second rollover occurred a short time later about 2 km west of the turnoff.

Whitbourne Fire Chief Jamie Budden says there is heavy water buildup on the roads and in many areas, and it’s turning to ice, making driving treacherous.

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Fleeing Driver Arrested for Impaired Driving After Spaniard’s Bay Crash

A 50-year-old man is facing an impaired driving charge after a single-vehicle crash on the Conception Bay Highway in Spaniard’s Bay.

RCMP and firefighters attended to the scene on Wednesday night, but the driver was nowhere, at least not immediately, to be seen.

He was found nearby by police, uninjured, but showing what they say were signs of impairment.

The driver provided breath samples at the detachment that were two and a half times the legal limit.

He’s scheduled to appear in court in December.

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Government Web Links and Pages Gradually Being Restored After Global Issue Discovered

The provincial government is gradually restoring its web links and pages after shutting its website down earlier this week.

The shutdown was necessary after a global vulnerability was found in the program behind many websites around the world.

The province says tits technical teams reviewed the vulnerability and made changes where necessary.

Update on the provincial government’s website, October 23, 2026

No cybersecurity incidents were identified, and officials are continuing to monitor the province’s systems.

Government says some links or pages may be temporarily unavailable while work continues on restoring government’s website content and services.

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Further Details Revealed on Government Affordability Measures

Further details on the affordability measures announced yesterday are now emerging.

Government is knocking 15 per cent off our electric bills, one of two steps taken yesterday to reduce the cost of living. The other involved an increase in the oil heat subsidy to $1,000 from $500.

Finance Minister Craig Pardy told VOCM Open Line with Brian Callahan that the electricity break, which applies to the first 2,000 kilowatt hours of usage each month, will cover consumption in December, January, February and March.

“We looked at it as a winter affordability to bridge those months until the Churchill Falls agreement,” said Minister Pardy.

Newfoundland Power, whose task it is to deliver the rebate, says bills will include a line with the rebate as a credit. No application is required.

Those looking for more information are asked to call 709-726-4635 or toll-free at 1-844-729-4645.

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Human Remains Found in St. John’s Those of Man Missing for More Than a Year

RCMP have confirmed that human remains located in the St. John’s area are those of a Caplin Cove man reported missing last year.

Clarenville RCMP say the man was last seen in May of 2025.

RCMP, with the help of the RNC and the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, this week confirmed that a body found in the St. John’s area is that of the missing man.

Police say the man’s death does not appear to be suspicious at this time.

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Government Announces New Housing Supports Ahead of Horizons 106 Closure

The provincial government has revealed its plans for the people that will be affected when the Horizons 106 facility closes in December.

Two organizations will be picking up the slack.

Stella’s Circle has been awarded a three year contract, valued at $1.3-million annually, to provide moderate case management for 25 people, with at least five in-home support visits per week.

Bensaid Services, meanwhile, will provide intensive case management with a dedicated 24/7 staffed response for 20 people. That contract will cost government $2.2-million per year for the next three years.

Government says the total cost of the two contacts $3.5-million is “far below” the $14.5-million it cost to run Horizons 106 last year.

Government says both operators have their own properties to house people, while Stella’s Circle will also use Canada-NL housing benefits or dedicated homes through Newfoundland Housing.

There are 45 people currently staying at the former Airport Inn.  Government says all of those will either be accommodated through the newly announced programs, or through short-term homes through NLHC with “light touch” staff support while a more permanent model is put in place.

A third RFP for light case management for 30 housing units is still under review.

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Team Gushue Extension Finally Opens After Years of Work

The final stretch of the Team Gushue Extension is finally open to traffic.

Rain and wind forced the ceremony marking the long-awaited milestone to be moved indoors at Admiralty House in Mount Pearl this morning,

Minister Loyola O’Driscoll, Brad Gushue, Minister Barry Petten, MP Tom Osborne, Mayor Danny Breen and Mayor Dave Aker at Admiralty House this morning (VOCM News)

The section of highway from Kenmount Road to Topsail Road was paved back in 2018, but the last stretch has taken years to finally get completed.

The highway link required the installation of two roundabouts, an overpass, and the reconfiguration of Brookfield Road.

The new roundabout from TGH to Commonwealth Ave (VOCM News)

The link means that residents of the Southern Shore can now connect directly to the Outer Ring Road.

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Two Way Closure on Outer Ring Road Best Approach, says Minister

A portion of the Outer Ring Road in St. John’s will close for the weekend beginning tonight.

The stretch of highway between Thorburn Road and the Team Gushue Highway will close at 6 p.m., and will reopen 6 a.m. Monday.

There may be some lane reductions in the area throughout the day as the contractor moves equipment onto the site.

The shutdown is to facilitate culvert replacements in the area.

Transportation Minister Barry Petten says there were two options for the work: either reduce traffic to one lane in either direction, which could cause significant backlogs, or shut the road down entirely.

He believes the latter is the best approach, noting that they did something similar for work on Pitts Memorial over the Thanksgiving weekend and it worked well.

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Two People Arrested in Connection with Break-ins, Fires in Twillingate and Surrounding Area

Two people were arrested and charged with arson in a police operation in Bayview, Twillingate earlier this week.

It was part of an ongoing investigation into a series of break-ins and deliberately-set fires in Twillingate and surrounding areas between late last summer and this spring.

RCMP from Gander, Twillingate, the police dog, Emergency Response Team, RCMP Air Services and the RNC’s Tactics and Rescue Unit were involved in the arrest on Wednesday.

Forty-year-old Adam Rumbolt is facing five counts of arson, two counts of breaking and entering to commit an indictable offence and possession of a prohibited weapon.

• Arson – five counts
• Breaking and entering to commit an indictable offence – two counts
• Possession of a prohibited weapon

Meanwhile, 40-year-old Tara Newhook was charged with two counts of arson and one count of breaking and entering.

Additional charges are possible. No additional details are being released at this time.

The pair were held in custody to appear in court today.

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Failed Seat Swap Leads to Assault Charges

A switch-a-roo behind the wheel of a car failed to pull the wool over the eyes of an RNC officer in metro last night.

Police stopped a vehicle on Topsail Road in Mount Pearl at about 6:00, but once it stopped, the officer saw the driver and passenger switch places.

By the time the dust had settled, a 37-year-old man had been charged with assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and driving while impaired.

He was released to appear in court at a later date.

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Molly Carlson’s Daring Red Bull Iceberg Backflip Released in Video

It gained a lot of attention when it was recorded back in June – now video of Canadian high diver and social media personality Molly Carlson diving off an iceberg grounded near Twillingate has been released.

Carlson is an overall runner-up in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series – and she became the first woman in history to dive from a freestanding iceberg.  She trained ahead of time by learning how to ice-climb.

Molly Carlson surveying the iceberg she is about to dive from (Red Bull)

The highly-organized event gained a lot of attention and concern in this province, where people are only too aware of the dangers of approaching – or climbing on top of – an iceberg.

Huge chunks of ice that calved from Greenland glaciers pass by the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador each spring and early summer.

While they attract a lot of interest and are a huge tourist draw, they are highly unstable and unpredictable as they melt and break apart.

Carlson admitted the danger involved in a video released by Red Bull.

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Health Authority Still Working to Recruit Staff for Urgent Care Clinic in Mount Pearl

NL Health Services is continuing to work on recruiting physicians and nurse practitioners to staff the Urgent Care Centre in Mount Pearl.

The health authority was responding to NAPE President Jerry Earle, who says government needs a “reality check” on the health care system.

The “rosy” picture government painted during a recent “state of the province” address is what prompted the leader of the province’s largest public sector union to chime in.

Earle cited the largely vacant Urgent Care Clinic as an example of shortcomings in the system.

“Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are actually paying $100,000 a month…for an empty building on the corner of Blackmarsh Road that should have been open six or nine months ago.”

A piece of tape now covers the ‘Urgent’ portion of the the sign in the west end (VOCM News)

NLHS says the Community Walk-In Clinic and Newcomer Health Clinic have operated out of the building since June, and effective October 5th, X-ray services will operate on the main level.

The health authority says information on the opening of the Urgent Care Centre will be shared once it is finalized.

Still a Ways to Go, Says Premier

Premier Tony Wakeham says he understands NAPE’s frustration with regards to the health care system.

Wakeham says he has frustrations with the system too, after what he calls “10 years of neglect” by the former government.

Wakeham admits that the health care system has “a long way to go,” but government is working on ways to recruit more people to fill vacant positions. For example, Wakeham says they have already had success in hiring more MRI staff.

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Province to Deliver Fall Fiscal Update in Late November

The fall fiscal update is coming late next month.

Finance Minister Craig Pardy will deliver the province’s fiscal snapshot in the final week of the fall sitting of the House of Assembly.

He says government is looking at an 80/20 split on excess revenue generated by rising oil prices.

Oil Barrels (File Photo)

The province, which set the budgetary benchmark for oil prices at $79 US a barrel, benefits to the tune of $33-million for every dollar above that figure.

Oil prices have been consistently much higher than that since last spring’s budget, and right now, the surplus is in the $500 million range.

Pardy had previously indicated that government intends to spend 80 per cent of any oil windfall on debt repayment and the remaining 20 per cent on affordability measures.

He says government is looking at the week of November 23rd for the fiscal update, “that will give us the most up-to-date numbers.”

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Twenty-Seven Soldiers Remain in Hospital as Three Investigations Begin into Fatal CFB Wainwright Fire

The Military gave an update last night on the tragedy at CFB Wainwright in which a fire resulted in the deaths of four soldiers.

The fire occurred late Saturday afternoon local time. Twenty-seven soldiers remain in hospital – 13 in critical condition.

Many “burn nurses” from Ontario are in or on the way to Wainwright to help treat the victims.

Acute Care Alberta is asking reporters not to go to hospitals, and to respect the privacy of the patients and their families.

As for the cause, there is no indication that the natural gas infrastructure had anything to do with the fire. The fire originated as a result of a training exercise on the anti-grenade launching range.

There are three investigations talking place – two by the military and one by a civilian agency. The military now says the investigation that it is in charge of will take a long, long time.

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Rain, Snow, and Strong Winds on Tap for Parts of Island as Post-Tropical Cyclone Josephine Passes By

It is going to be wet and windy across southern portions of the island today.

Environment Canada meteorologist Maxine Cloutier-Gervais says the weather is the result of post-tropical cyclone Josephine, which is making its way past Atlantic Canada today.

She says the system will bring with it some rain, but winds are the biggest concern. She says wind warnings are in effect for much of the south coast, as well as the southern Avalon.

Cloutier-Gervais says winds will generally be gusting in the 80 km/h range, but they could reach 100 km/h in some coastal areas. She says there will also be a risk of snow over higher terrain, reaching as far as the Clarenville area.

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RNC Say Bear Spray Found on Man Arrested in Cowan Heights

A 43-year-old man has been charged following an incident on Hamlyn Road in St. John’s yesterday morning, during which a can of bear spray was found on the suspect.

The RNC were called to the area just before 9:30 a.m. and found a man, who appeared to be intoxicated, sitting on the sidewalk.

Police say a can of bear spray was found on the man, and he was found to be breaching court orders.

He has been charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, carrying a concealed weapon, and breaches. He was held for court.

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RCMP Investigating After Girl Threatened in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

The RCMP are seeking the public’s help after they say a young person was threatened by two people in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

The police were contacted just after 7:30 last night to reports that a girl had been confronted by a man and woman on Corte Real Road. The man is said to have had a weapon.

Extensive patrols were conducted in the area, but the suspects were not found.

The man is described as wearing a black hat, hooded sweatshirt, and pants, while the woman was wearing a grey striped “lumber jack”-style coat and blue jeans with holes in them.

They were last seen together in the woods between Perrault Place and the Nunatsiavut building.

People in the areas of Perreault Place, Cartwright Road, Markland Road and Corte Real Road are being asked to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity, and to check any security footage they may have.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

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Slight Increases and Decreases in Overnight Fuel Price Adjustment

There were some slight changes in fuel prices overnight.

Gas is up by 1.7 cents this morning. Diesel is down by less than a cent on the island and just over two cents in Labrador.

Furnace oil on the island is down by less than a cent, while it is increasing by 1.7 cents in Labrador.

The price of propane has jumped by nearly 4 cents.

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