Cheers &Jeers
JEERS: to speeding, particularly in construction zones.
Recently, among those caught for speeding by police were two drivers zooming through construction zones on the west coast of Newfoundland. A 26-year-old Corner Brook man was ticketed after he was found driving 60 km/h over the speed limit in a construction zone in Deer Lake, and another vehicle was stopped on the TCH near Massey Drive travelling 113 km/h in the reduced 50 km/h zone where crews were working at the time. In that case, the driver was ticketed — which carries a fine of $1,170 and six demerit points — had his licence suspended and vehicle seized and impounded. It’s dangerous and careless behaviour, and puts the lives of workers and other drivers at risk.
CHEERS: to Uberexciting ride-sharing.
It was inevitable, it was coming, so cheers to Uber finally officially launching its ride-sharing service in Newfoundland and Labrador. Uber is available for
use by residents, businesses and visitors to the province. Many people are happy about the option Uber provides for getting around, particularly with the tourism season set to begin. Taxi companies are not so excited, but both seem to co-exist in other jurisdictions without much commotion.
JEERS: to tent city at Colonial building continuing.
Whether you believe it is a protest and that protestors — who do not live in the tents — are encouraging people living in the tents to stay there, or if there really are no other and safer living arrangements for those living in the tents, we should all agree this issue has to be resolved. Installing electrical outlets or such services to tent city is not the answer. Staying there in protest — if there are better options offered — is not the answer. The answer is working together to get people out of the tents and into warm and safe accommodations, and to continue to develop longterm living solutions.
CHEERS: to plans to finally amend the Limitations Act.
Currently, survivors of childhood physical abuse in this province have a two-year limit after reaching the age of majority to bring forth civil action against their abusers. Newfoundland and Labrador is one of just two provinces —
the other is New Brunswick — that still has this deadline. Last week in the legislature, Justice Minister John Hogan introduced a bill to amend the act. Former St. John’s resident Jack Whalen and his lawyer, his daughter Brittany Whalen, have been advocating for a change to the act. Jack Whalen was held at the Whitbourne Training School from age 13 to 17, where he says he was physically and emotionally abused by staff, deprived of the necessities of life and tortured. Whalen has filed a statement of claim in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court against the province, the attorney general of Canada and a now-deceased local magistrate, alleging their actions and failures resulted in his long-term and continued suffering. Many petitions to amend the legislation have been presented to remove the limitation period for civil claims regarding child abuse. Premier Andrew Furey met briefly with Jack Whalen and assured him his voice was heard, and that work is ongoing. That’s good news and hopefully this outdated, limiting legislation will be changed soon.
JEERS: once again to unsecured loads.
It’s quite visible on the Outer Ring Road — garbage bags, various types of debris, and even pieces of old furniture on the side of the road and in ditches.
It’s after falling from unsecured loads on vehicles likely headed to the dump. How long does it take to properly secure a load on your vehicle? And, when you get to the dump you have to notice that that big piece of furniture or garbage bag, or pieces of that old decking had fallen out. Why not go back to retrieve it? It’s just total carelessness and laziness for sure, but it also is very dangerous to other drivers and could end up seriously hurting or killing innocent people.
CHEERS: to improvements seen in the northern cod stock.
After the Department of Fisheries and Oceans last year moved northern cod from the “critical” zone to the “cautious” zone in its stock assessments, many believe it’s time for a return to a commercial harvest, albeit a limited one. Others, however, say it’s still too early and the cod’s main food — caplin — has not recovered significantly enough to allow better cod recovery. The caplin factor is an important consideration and it’s hard to understand why a caplin fishery has been happening at all given its importance to cod (that’s also a topic of debate). However, any improvement to the cod stocks and any steps toward the resumption of a commercial fishery is good news.