CBC Newfoundland Morning

Many people in this country breathed a sigh of relief last evening. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to delay threatened tariffs by 30 days. The tariffs would have affected a wide-range of industries across the country, and the seafood industry in this province would have been among the hardest hit. The CBC's Alex Kennedy reached Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey after Trudeau's announcement.

Many people in this province are double-checking their grocery lists, to find out what is and isn't Canadian- made. President Donald Trump has threatened a 25-per cent tariff on most Canadian goods, and some Canadians been boycotting all American products, finding ways to support Canadian. The CBC's Amy Feehan took to the streets of Corner Brook on Monday to hear how they were taking a stand.

A retired teacher from this province is reflecting on a historic event from 35 years ago. Jerome Jesseau is sharing his stories with some people tonight in Corner Brook. Jesseau was teaching in Germany at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. He joined us in our studio.

Amateur photographer Stu White is pretty happy these days. He's originally from Stephenville and lives in Mount Pearl, and his photo of a pair of red fox cubs in Bonavista just won him a big prize. Canadian Geographic magazine has judged his picture the best of the year in the "flora, fauna and fungi" category for the last year. White spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power..

At least ten branches of major banks have closed in NL over the past few years. But Candace Matthews says when one bank account closes, perhaps a credit union account needs to open. Matthews is manager of member experience and communications with The Atlantic Edge Credit Union. It has 16 branches serving rural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Corner Brook, Gander, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Port Aux Basques.

February is Black History Month, and Laurabel Mba is asking young, Black people in this province to share their creativity and express themselves. She's a a diversity, equity-and-inclusion and anti-racism specialist, and she hopes to encourage Black youth to talk about their own experiences of being Black in Newfoundland and Labrador.

People in the Roddickton-Bide Arm area will never forget it. The town's arena was packed this past weekend as the NHL Legends of Hockey Tour made a stop in the Northern Peninsula town. It was an exciting matchup, with former NHL players facing off against local players. CBC reporters Alex Kennedy and Leila Beaudoin were there, taking in all the action. They spoke with fans and players about what the event meant to the community.

Public transit in Corner Brook and St. Anthony is getting a boost from the provincial government. The province announced last week that a bus pass pilot project will give some people in those two towns free rides on public transit. The help will be for seniors, young people and people on income support. Corner Brook MHA Gerry Byrne and Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons made the announcement together on Friday.

The provincial government announced on Friday that cuts to immigration numbers won't be as severe as previously thought. The federal government has agreed to add back one-thousand economic immigration spaces for 2025, including nearly 3-hundred humanitarian refugees. That's a change of heart from mid-January when the federal government announced it would cut in HALF the number of immigrants permitted to settle in this province. Sarah Stoodley is the provincial minister of Immigration, Population growth and Skills.

Plans by World Energy GH2 to produce hydrogen in the Stephenville area are on hold. A statement from the company last week said, "The green ammonia market is not maturing at the rate expected." The company also says the market will dictate the timeline for its proposed project. That leaves the business community hoping that the company will continue with their plans for wind turbines, with other industries benefitting from the power. Debbie Brake-Patten is president of the Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce. She and Stephenville Mayor Tom Rose spoke with Radio-Canada's Patrick Butler.

People in the province were given more information this week on the seriousness of a cybersecurity incident on the PowerSchool platform. PowerSchool is an online platform that allows parents, guardians and students to see their grades, get announcements, and more. Users across North America were affected by a data breach.If you're a student or a teacher — or if you were one in the past 30 years -- you'll need this info. Krista Lynn Howell is the province's minister of education.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has given Newfoundland and Labrador an "F" on its Red Tape Report Card. The report card looks at how the regulations and policies of policy makers affect businesses and consumers. The goal is to cut through the clutter, to help small businesses grow and improve. Louis-Philippe Gauthier is the Vice-president, Atlantic for The Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

The "Crossroads of the World" is taking a fresh look at its image and how to market it. The airport town of Gander is taking what it's calling a re-branding journey, and it's looking for your help. Kayla White is the lead for the Town of Gander on communications, branding and partnership. Percy Farwell is the mayor.

Earlier this month, we learned about a proposal to build the country's first commercial spaceport on the Burin Peninsula. The project, by Ontario-based company NordSpace promises 200 local jobs. The company is aiming for a test flight this summer and the first orbital flights in about three years. It may sound strange to think of launching rockets from St. Lawrence, but the plan is just one of this province's connections to outer space. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power looked into the matter,

As soon as this Saturday, U.S. president Donald Trump could impose punishing tariffs on Canadian goods that are sold south of the border. That would have a big impact on this province's mining sector. Mining accounts for 7.3 percent of NL's Gross Domestic Product. Amanda McCallum is the CEO of the Mining Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. She spoke with the CBC's Elizabeth Whitten.

When you hear the word "hospice," of course, the end of life comes to mind. But a special program at the hospice in Grand Falls-Windsor is very much focused on seizing every moment until the end comes. Lionel Kelland Hospice has a "Forever Moments" program. The most recent experience they created was a big movie night for one resident and their family. Tanya Murphy handles community engagement and communications for the Lionel Kelland Hospice. Krista Reid joins us on the line as well. Her family benefited from a "Forever Moment" in July, 2024.

The Invictus Games are coming up in British Columbia from February 8 to 16. It's an international sporting event for wounded, injured and ill veterans, as well as members of the armed forces who are still serving. Two men from this province will be proudly representing Team Canada. A few weeks ago, we spoke with Clifford Samms from the Codroy Valley. Today, we met Andre Crocker of Fall River, Nova Scotia, who grew up in Trout River.

Most of us don't think a whole lot about the running of an airport, as we fly in or out. But the folks in charge of those massive properties put a lot of thought and planning into it. On Tuesday night, Deer Lake Regional Airport set course for the next five years as the airport authority launched its new strategic plan. Tammy Priddle is president and CEO of the Airport Authority.

The federal riding of Bonavista-Burin-Trinity stretches from Conception Bay to Gander Bay and most points in-between. It's about to be renamed as Terra Nova-The Peninsulas, and will now include the east side of Placentia Bay. We wanted to learn what's important to people in the massive rural riding. Troy Turner has been travelling throughout, and he joined us from our Gander studio.

The characters in the video game series Super Smash Bros. burst onto the scene in a flurry of leaps, spins, kicks and punches more than 25 years ago - and players still love them. Gamers take on the identities of characters from other popular video games and fight it out with each other. Super Smash Bros. is -- well, it's still a "smash" among players, The CBC's Amy Feehan checked out a tournament in Corner Brook.

A non-profit group in this province is taking action to try to reduce vaping among youth. Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest rate of youth vaping in Canada. That puts young people at risk, so the Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco is introducing nicotine exposé kits for middle school and high school students. Melissa Moore is program and education coordinator.

Medical assistance in dying, or MAiD, became legal in Canada in June 2016, but the federal government is looking at ways to improve what the law allows. Right now, Health Canada is doing a survey of Canadians about advance requests for MAiD. As it stands right now, the law does not allow medical assistance in dying to be provided based on an advance request. The person asking for MAID must be able to consent, and they can't ask in advance before they are eligible or want to receive it. We asked Health Canada for an interview about its consultation with Canadians, but the department declined. Helen Long is CEO of Dying with Dignity Canada, which works to improve end-of-life care.

There's a new boss in charge of health care in Newfoundland and Labrador. But he's a familiar face and voice to many of us. Dr. Pat Parfrey has been a kidney specialist and epidemiologist, but most recently, you will remember him as co-chair of Health Accord NL. Last Thursday, he was appointed as the new CEO of NL Health Services.

Most of us hadn't heard of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde until last Monday. She's the Episcopal bishop in Washington, D.C. who made a plea to President Donald Trump. But Anglican church members in Western Newfoundland knew her name. They'd met her in person last fall, at church meetings in Corner Brook. Rev. Mickton Phiri is priest-in-charge at St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church. He and other Anglicans in the Diocese of Western Newfoundland Labrador Straits met Bishop Budde in person.

*NOTE:The following interviews contain descriptions that some listeners may find disturbing.* Just before Christmas, 11-year-old Kamara White was on her lunch break in a classroom at Sprucewood Academy in Grand Falls-Windsor. Some of the grade six students in the room decided to play a physical game while the teacher was not present. As things got rougher, Kamara fell and ended up having the tops of two of her fingers severed. The CBC's Leigh Anne Power spoke with Kamara, as well as Kamara's mom, Annette.

We've been asking listeners for happy stories about the good that's in the world - and we were delighted to tell you about one of them this morning. A mother in Gander Bay sparked the idea of a junior firefighter program. it's been running successfully for the past three years, thanks to the Gander Bay Fire Department. Jodi Budden of Victoria Cove has two teenaged children, including her 15-year-old son, Tyrone. Lindsay Earle is deputy chief of the Gander Bay Fire Department.

It's still unclear what help will be available in the months to come under Jordan's Principle, and that's causing concern. Jordan's Principle is the result of a ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. It's meant to ensure that First Nations children in Canada can get the services and support they need, when they need them. There's been a delay or shortfall this year in getting that federal funding to students in this province. As a result, the provincial government stepped in to help, with 6-point-4 million dollars to continue supports for students. The provincial education department confirms that the additional assistance will be available until the end of this school year. Jennifer Broadbent is a parent in Corner Brook who still has concerns that her son, Obie, won't get the help he needs. She spoke with the CBC's Alex Kennedy.

If you love outdoor winter activities, this winter has been a disappointment so far. Many areas of our Newfoundland Morning region haven't had as much snow as in a typical winter. Snowmobilers are frustrated in some regions, especially in the central part of the island. There's some snow on the west coast, though. Matthew Swain is general manager of the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation.

The story of a Bonavista man who died en route to hospital has prompted concerned citizens in the town to take action. In early 2023, Charlie Marsh had an asthma attack. The local Bonavista emergency room was closed, and he was sent to Clarenville by ambulance. Marsh didn't survive. His daughter, Shelley Marsh Gosselin, is now working with the Bonavista concerned citizens committee. She told the CBC's Leigh Anne Power that she doesn't want anyone else to experience what happened to her father. The CBC's Bernice Hillier spoke with Reg Durdle, a member of the Bonavista concerned citizens committee.

Gilbert the dog was found safe and sound on Thursday, after being lost outdoors in Labrador for two very cold nights. Gilbert had a lot of people looking for him. Cara Suley of Forteau is his owner.

Shovelling snow is just a part of winter in this province, and some people in Corner Brook volunteered to do some EXTRA shovelling on Thursday for a good cause. Blow Me Down Trails is hosting a provincial cross-country ski race this weekend. While the ski club has had a fair amount of snow, some of it needed to be moved around a bit. Shawn Leamon is the general manager at Blow Me Down Trails.

An artist from Corner Brook is turning shotgun shells into art. Tara Young has used hundreds of shotgun shells found on beaches in the Gros Morne area. She's created a unique interpretation of sea life that also makes a point. We reached Young in Nova Scotia where she's studying art at NSCAD University.

Getting out of the house can be hard for parents with newborn babies, and squeezing in some time to exercise can be even harder. That's part of the reason yoga instructor Mandi Buckle says giving moms a space to do yoga with their babies is so important. The Studio, a new fitness and wellness space in the city, is offering Baby and Mom Yoga. The CBC's Amy Feehan stopped by the class.

Earlier this week, the federal government announced it's cutting immigration numbers in half. This province welcomed three-thousand newcomers last year. The new total allowed is 15-hundred. 75 percent of them are already living here. The Registered Nurses Union Newfoundland and Labrador is worried about what that will mean for healthcare recruitment. Yvette Coffey is the president of the union.

In 2015, 196 countries signed the Pairs Agreement. The goal was to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. After his first day in office, President Donald Trump took the U.S. out of the agreement. As the country moves away from climate action and focuses on using fossil fuels, it could affect the goals of the Agreement. Angela Carter is a professor at Memorial University who studies environmental policy and politics.

Last week, we learned that the Bank of Montreal is closing its branch in Port au Choix this July, after over 50 years of operation. That will leave the town with only a credit union in the area to provide banking services. Customers who hope to stay with BMO will need to travel two hours to reach the nearest branch in Rocky Harbour, or two and a half hours to the branch in Deer Lake. We spoke with Port au Choix Mayor Donald Spence, pharmacist Dwanna Dobbin, and Shirley Spence, the owner of the Sea Echo Motel and Restaurant.

Firefighters are trained for every possible scenario, but there's nothing like a real-life situation to bring it all home. Last week, the Lewisporte Fire Department responded for the first time ever to a fire involving an electric vehicle. Rob Fudge is the battalion chief with Lewisporte Regional Fire Rescue, and he was the officer in command at the call last Thursday.

The Eurasia Group is an international company offering business advice to businesses and politicians around the world. It recently released its annual report on the issues countries and companies will have to face in the coming year. For Canada, some of the threats mentioned include the trade relationship with the U.S., the rise of A-I and the breakdown of social norms. Graeme Thompson is a senior analyst with the Eurasia Group. He spoke with the CBC's Leigh Anne Power.

The United States will recognize only two sexes, male and female, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered on Monday. And those two sexes cannot be changed. Trump moved quickly to end a range of policies aimed at protecting rights for 2SLGBTQ+ people. While many say the executive order will be challenged in court, it still has many members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community worried. Quinn Jesso is with Trans Support Newfoundland and Labrador and also a member of the Corner Brook & Bay of Islands Pride organization.

None of us likes to think of children and young people having to battle cancer. Now, a researcher at Memorial University is taking a look at their experiences, in hopes of making things just a little better for them. The study is looking for people between the ages of 10 and 39 who were diagnosed with cancer before the age of 18.Sevtap Savas is a cancer researcher at Memorial University.

Red Bay has always been one of THE places to refuel along the south Labrador highway. For drivers heading north, it was the last stop to get gas until Port Hope Simpson - over 100 kilometres away. But now, the local convenience store is closing - and that means locals have to drive outside of town for fuel AND groceries. We spoke with town manager Keith Pike

A Canadian aerospace company is eyeing St. Lawrence, NL as the site for "Spaceport Canada." NordSpace claims it'll be Canada's first fully integrated space launch facility. The company hasn't officially given St. Lawrence a "go," but the town is right at the top of its list. The CBC's Hillary Johnson took a look at the company and the project.