Yesterday, the foundation gave $115,000 to 127 care teams to help make the patient experience more pleasant.

Paul Snow of the Healthcare Foundation says a person can have fear and anxiety about going to hospital, and the Comfort Care Program addresses those needs.

Snow says every person in the province, at some point, is touched by health care.

“Clocks, snowshoes, iPads, day sleepers because if you have to stay overnight with a family member, you don’t want to sleep on one of those hard chairs,” says Snow.

The MHA for Lake Melville rose in the House of Assembly today and roundly condemned the latest agreement with Quebec on Churchill Falls, outlining the reasons why he quit caucus and why he’ll be voting against the deal.

Keith Russell dropped a political bombshell just as debate in the House of Assembly was about to get underway on Monday, crossing the floor to sit as an independent.

Listen to “Independent MHA Keith Russell speaks in the HoA” on Spreaker.

Today he had his opportunity to explain the reasons behind that decision, referencing the way in which the provincial government treated the Innu Nation in a recent dispute over their historic presence in Labrador.

“We have to talk about this project being on Innu land, and the Innu Nation should be respected during this process, and they have not been. I can say that this government has given them the ultimate disrespect in challenging their identity and their history in Labrador.”

Russell also cited the serious social issues Happy Valley-Goose Bay has been facing since the development of the Muskrat Falls project.

“We’re in chaos and we’re in crisis in Lake Melville right now and our children are dying. We have violence, we have violent crime. We don’t have enough resources, we don’t have enough infrastructure, we don’t have enough people. We have murders, and people walking the streets with shotguns that are commonplace Mr. Speaker. This is not good enough in today’s society. For a year I’ve asked this government for help. What do we get? Nothing! Lip service, over and over and over again.”

Environment Canada meteorologist Ian Hubbard says the slow-moving system will start to intensify as it moves across the island early Saturday morning.

A special weather statement has been issued for many areas including St. John’s, the northern portion of the Avalon, the northeast coast, and Clarenville.

Graphic from an animation on windy.com showing forecast wind gusts at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday. Blue is in the 100 km/h range.

“Those winds are going to pick up from the northwest starting during the overnight hours Friday night into Saturday morning and persist for part of the day on Saturday.”

Hubbard says the highest gusts could reach 100-110 km/h for parts of the east coast and northeast coast.

Hubbard says there is a possibility for damage because the trees are still full of leaves.

He says in another month or so when the leaves are gone, the possibility of damage would be reduced. As of now the possibility of broken branches is high.

Residents are being encouraged to take in their lawn furniture and other loose items and to take down hanging baskets.

Hubbard says storm surge is not expected to be a factor because the winds will be blowing off the land.

Planes and boats could be affected, so travelers are being reminded to keep an eye on flight and ferry schedules.

Listen to “Environment Canada Meteorologist Ian Hubbard” on Spreaker.

RNC say operational patrols, police dogs, a drone operator, forensic services and the Criminal Investigation Division were sent to Kilbride to investigate.

The search for what was described as a male suspect was unsuccessful according to police.

Investigators are offering their support to the complainant and are gathering information to determine the events of that night.

Police have increased patrols in the area and officers are canvassing the neighbourhood for information or video footage.

RNC say there is no general risk to public safety, but they ask people to remain vigilant and be aware of their surroundings as a precaution.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RNC at 709-729-8000.

RCMP were contacted about an assault in a vacant lot in the area of Broomfield Street just before 1:00 Wednesday.

The victim required first aid at the scene and was taken to hospital for further treatment.

Two suspects who fled the scene before police arrived were identified and 1arrested.

Twenty-eight-year-old Natasha Mistenapeo (MISTA-napeeyo) was charged with robbery, assault with a weapon and other offences. A 47-year-old woman was also arrested and faces a single count of assault.

RCMP say there is no risk to the public.

He compared the deal to selling your house using the Consumer Price Index, something which would fetch a lot less money than going by market values.

Given that the average price of a two-apartment bungalow in metro is around $425,000, the seller would leave a lot of money on the table under the CPI that goes up by about 2 per cent.

He says local real estate market prices have nearly doubled in the last 20 years.

“Let’s say you built that same house 20 years ago for $203,000 and you decide to sell it 20 years later. But the purchaser says ‘I’m not going to give you market price, I’m going to give you what CPI went up over the last 20 years.'”

“Do you want the market price? Or do you want the CPI price?”

Keith Russell says he didn’t arrive at the decision to sit as an Independent overnight, citing what he calls “trust and respect” as a motivating factor.

MHA Keith Russell’s post to Facebook

In a post to social media, Russell says he will be speaking with constituents in the coming days, and he is inviting questions and concerns from the public as debate on Churchill Falls wraps up in the House of Assembly.

Russell indicated in a recent interview with NTV that he will be voting against government on accepting the new Churchill Falls agreement.

Pardy made the comments during the closing remarks by members of the House of Assembly on the final day of debate on the latest agreement with Quebec on Churchill Falls.

The province is about $20-billion in debt, but will get about half of that in revenue by 2041. In addition, Electricity rates will be cut by 15 per cent if the deal goes through.

Minister Craig Pardy says the agreement is not a windfall that that solves all of its problems, but it reduces our need to borrow.

“Increased revenue is debt you never issue. And debt you never issue is interest this province never pays. That is the quietest benefit of this agreement, and it may also be the most durable one.”

Tickets are available for an $800,000 cabin on Goose Pond near Whitbourne, plus the popular 50/50 jackpot draw.

Easter Seals NL CEO Mark Bradbury says there’s only hours to go to get your tickets.

He says as of mid-day, the 50/50 jackpot was well over $600,000.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Proceeds go to the programs and services provided by Easter Seals NL to those living with disabilities in the province.

(via Easter Seals NL)

He welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s invitation for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member.

“Just as dominance is the arrogance of the hegemon, perfection is the enemy of the good.”

“The economics of this are clear; the leverage of the powerful and the exploitive relationship collapses, well before complete independence is achieved, because diversity confers advantage. The objective is not self-sufficiency, it’s collective resilience.”

Carney says a deeper partnership is needed between Canada and Europe – “which brings so many things” including market power, research depth, advanced manufacturing and the ability and the will to set standards that the world “frequently adopts.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney delivering a speech to the EU in Strasbourg, France (via Mark Carney)