Third time not the charm as Witless Bay once again defers BBBAA decision

By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2023

Witless Bay council has once again delayed making a decision on whether or not it will fund the Bay Bulls to Bauline Athletic Association moving forward.

“Basically, council is still ironing out the details of this MOU,” said Councillor Nancy Burke, who serves as council’s BBBAA liaison. “It’s an important item for the town which has required much discussion and decision making,” said Burke. “It is not something that we are entering into lightly. We want to ensure that we get it right, so that all parties involved are satisfied. We expect to have a decision to present in the very near future.”

For the last number of years, the Town has contributed $37,000 annually to the organization, as dictated by a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Witless Bay and the organization. The Town of Bay Bulls pays an equal amount and the BBBAA effectively acts as a recreation department for both communities and the region generally.

That MOU expired at the close of 2022, and Witless Bay council has yet to decide whether it will renew it, despite the item appearing on three public meeting agendas since December.

In early December, Burke had noted a decision would need to be reached soon, as the Town was budgeting for 2023.

Councillor Alex Troake, responding to an e-mail inquiry from the Irish Loop Post earlier this winter, said that $37,000 has been earmarked for the BBBAA in the budget should council once again enter an MOU. If the Town chooses not to enter into an agreement, that money will be used for other recreational purposes.

Council denied a request from the BBBAA for an additional $13,000 back in 2022; at the time, finance chairperson Councillor Troake accused the BBBAA of “sitting on their hands” during the pandemic, a statement BBBAA president Scott Penney vehemently denied.

Bay Bulls has already approved its funding to the BBBAA for this year.

Ottawa moving to bring high-speed internet to more of the Irish Loop

By Mark Squibb/February 24, 2023

A handful of politicians representing the federal and provincial governments braved a blizzard to travel to Ferryland Wednesday morning to announce up to $94 million in joint funding for Bell and Xplore Net to bring high-speed internet to another 36,000 homes in over 350 rural, remote and Indigenous communities throughout the province.

Avalon MP Ken McDonald began the session with a playful shot at federal Minister of Rural Economic Development and the MP for Long Range Mountains, Gudie Hutchings.
“Every time Gudie speaks, she says she’s from the best coast, the west coast,” said McDonald. “And I’ll say, ‘You can think that all you like, but I have the Irish Loop in my riding, so mine is the best.’ So, I’m going to challenge her a little bit today, and ask her which community in her riding has got an international stamp?”

McDonald was of course referring to a stamp released in 2019 showing a giant iceberg that floated past Ferryland in 2017.

Hutchings had no comeback for McDonald.

“I noticed that Minister Hutchings is not jumping up or singling out any communities in her riding, so what is it in wrestling, the tap out? I got the shoulders pinned to the mat and now I’m wearing the belt.”

McDonald went on to relay the importance of internet to rural communities.

“I don’t think I need to tell anybody here how important high-speed internet is to communities like Ferryland, and all the other rural communities across our province,” said the Avalon MP. “Our government is working hard to give Canadians who live in rural and remote areas all the advantages and connectivity that come with high-speed internet access. Since day one, our government has been dedicated to building high-capacity infrastructure to connect Canadians, no matter where they live. Today’s announcement is another step towards our goal, and I’m proud to say it’s a big step for rural Newfoundland and Labrador.”

He relayed how during COVID lockdowns, the House of Commons met over Zoom and “didn’t miss a beat.”

“We can all vote on now, as members of Parliament, on our phones,” said McDonald by way of example. “We have an app on our phones, that if we’re at home, and not in Ottawa for some reason when a vote takes place, you take out your phone, and click on the voting app, and vote. There’s facial ID to make sure it’s not some phony person voting in your place who might not vote the way you would. It gives us the ability to be in our ridings more, and not in Ottawa. Because I always tell people, there’s nobody voting for you in Ottawa, unless you’re an Ottawa MP. So, the more you can be in your riding, the better off you are as a politician.”

Hutchings also spoke about Ottawa’s commitment to bringing high-speed internet to rural communities.

“Internet is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said Hutchings. “It’s not just Netflix.”

She went on to detail how folks use the internet to work, play, further their education, and stay connected.

“But the big thing that it is, is that it’s an equalizer,” said Hutchings. “It’s an equalizer from every part of Canada, from coast to coast to coast. That makes it a level playing field, no matter where you business is, no matter where your farm is, no matter where your fishing operation is, if you have reliable, high speed internet, the country is equal.”

She said the federal government is working to provide high speed internet access to 98 precent of Canadians by 2026, and the entirety of Canada by 2030.

According to Hutchings, 93.5 precent of Canadians are connected to high-speed internet. She later said that 79 percent of this province has access to high-speed internet.

“I know, for some communities it’s been a long time coming,” said Hutchings. “But we are getting the job done… so get ready, because your world is about to change, in a good way.”

MHA Brian Warr then reiterated that access to the internet is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Also in attendance were MHA Loyola O’Driscoll, Ferryland councillor Keith Mooney, and MP Seamus O ‘Regan, and representatives of Bell and Xplore Net.

Bell’s portion of the project is expected to be completed by December 2025, and Xplorenet’s by March 2026.

A list of communities to receive services was provided by Ken McDonald’s office, but that list does not include the number of households to be serviced in each community.

Communities along the Irish Loop to receive additional service include Admiral’s Beach, Admiral’s Cove, Aquaforte, Biscay Bay, Brigus South, Cape Broyle, Cappahayden, Fermeuse, Ferryland, Gaskiers-Point la Haye, La Manche, Mall Bay, Port Kirwan, Portugal Cove South, Renews, St. Catherine’s, St. Shotts, St. Vincent’s, and Trepassey.

Those communities are being serviced by Bell.

BBBAA closes after school program as it still awaits word from Witless Bay

By Mark Squibb/February 17, 2023

The Bay Bulls Bauline Athletics Association (BBBAA) has closed its afterschool program, citing loss of revenue amongst other issues.

“We were losing money, and we tired to carry it as best we could, but unfortunately, the last two or three years, we haven’t been able to have our annual auction every year that we typically have at the Lifestyle Centre,” said chairperson Scott Penney.

Furthermore, Penney said, enrollment numbers have dropped over the years, and the program had also sponsored certain children, which ate further into the revenues.

“Ten years ago, there was definitely a need, and we saw a real opportunity to provide an afterschool program,” said Penney. “But a lot of things changed in our area to make it more cost prohibitive to do that.”

Penney said one major factor has been an increase in competing after school programs, including a private childcare business and an afterschool program operating out of St. Bernard’s Elementary.

He said the regional market simply cannot sustain three afterschool programs.

“We will continue to focus on recreation, on our summer camps and day programs,” said Penney. “And unfortunately, at this point in time, the afterschool program wasn’t sustainable.”

Penney praised those other programs and said he hopes they can absorb the children who had availed of the BBBAA’s program.

“We’ve seen more private operators open up now with expanded spaces,” said Penney. “That’s a good fit and hopefully those kids can transition to some of those private operators.”

Penney added that reductions in busing routes over the last number of years has also increased the difficulty in getting students to and from the program.

The BBBAA issued notice of a closure on January 6, citing a closure date of February 3 (the BBBAA actually postponed closure of the program by about a week.)

That closure notice also cited a projected revenue deficit of $12,937 from November 1, 2022 till February 3, 2023 — a loss the association says it cannot continue to absorb.

Penney said roughly 20 to 25 kids would attend the program each day.

He added he was glad the organisation could provide employment for so many young adults over the last decade, and he believes the private market is very capable of meeting the demand.

Penney said he’s glad the program has never turned a child away.

Meanwhile, Penney sids the association is still unsure as to whether the Town of Witless Bay will continue to financially support the organization or not.

“We have no idea what the Town intends to do,” said Penney.

For years, the Town has contributed $37,000 annually to the organization. Bay Bulls also paid the same amount.

In 2021, both towns provided a boost of $13,000 each on top of those funds to help the organization deal with increased costs due to the pandemic.

Bay Bulls provided that same boost of cash in 2022, but Witless Bay denied the increase, though not unanimously. Councillors Gerard Dunne, Alex Troake, Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard, and Mayor Trevor Croft voted down the funding increase, while councillors Nancy Burke and Jacob Hayden voted in favour of it.

Troake noted at the time that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Town and the organization was set to expire in 2022, and that council would have to discuss whether they would renew it in the new year.

A motion to either approve or deny a new MOU with the organization first appeared on a public meeting agenda in early December, but it has been delayed several times since then.

The MOU was on the agenda for this most recent meeting of council, which was scheduled to be held on February 14, but that meeting was postponed until next Tuesday due to this past week’s snowstorm.

“As regards to moving forward, I don’t know what the plan is,” said Penney. “In today’s job market, a one-year or two-year option, we’re not going to be able to accept that. We appreciate it, but we are unable to accept that, because it doesn’t provide a sense of security for our employees. We have very dedicated staff, we have done tremendous work in this region, and we do recreation tasks that council now does not need to worry about… What they are getting from a $50,000 commitment is basically two full time employees to run all recreation programming, manage the winter carnival, manage Canada Day, manage hikes.”

He said that if Witless Bay chooses not to fund the organization, the BBBAA may fold operations entirely.

“The rubber will hit the road, and at the end of the day, if that’s the way they want to do it, Witless Bay will have their own recreation program and they’ll have to go out and hire their own recreation director and pay $60,000 or $70,000 and manage recreation,” said Penney. “So, it’s totally, totally their call.”

The Town of Bay Bulls has come onboard with $50,000 in annual funding.

Penney said the organization has continued to ask for $50,000 annually, noting the cost of living has increased greatly since the initial approval of $37,000 annually back in 2013.

Penney will have to wait until next Tuesday to see whether  the Town approves, denies, or delays.

“We’re pretty hopeful,” said Penny. “But as I’ve said many, many times, if the Witless Bay council decides not to approve the funding allocation for the BBBAA, then the very next morning they’re in the recreation business.”

Jack and Liam

Jack O’Reilly (left) and Liam Carter may cheer for different teams, but the pair of Mobile Monarchs still have fun on the ice together. The two enjoyed a skating party with their classmates just before the start of Christmas break. Submitted photo

St. Kevin's High School Boys Earn Bronze

St. Kevin’s High School boys earned bronze in the Carbonear Winter Classic basketball tournament earlier this January. From left to right are Aaron Hennessey, Brendan Ryan, Noah Anderchyk, Coach Pearce Penton, Carter Hynes, Evan St. Croix and Ben Winsor.

Bay Bulls supports banquet

The Town of Bay Bulls has approved funding for the annual senior’s outreach dinner at Mobile Central High School.

During January’s meeting, council voted to split the cost of the dinner with the school 50/50, but not without some discussion first.

Councillor Corey Ronayne asked how much the cost associated with the dinner usually amounted to in years past.

Councillor Shannon O’Driscoll explained that the last time the school hosted the event was in 2020, and the cost ran somewhere around $1,250.

“But we’ve budgeted $2,500 in this current budget, due to grocery costs,” said O’Driscoll. “And it depends too on the attendance numbers. They’re trying to get the support now, and then they’ll plan the dinner. So, I can’t really give a firm answer because it depends on the amount that attend.”

The motion passed unanimously.