What do sugary soft drinks and social media have in common?
They have both been targeted by government over the years. Many years ago, a very clever senior employee in the department of Finance (one of the people we are lucky to have working for us) wrote a masterful memo on the proposed sugar tax. With clean cold logic he showed why it would not work. As a capable public servant, he had shown how the tax was not cost effective, an administrative nightmare, and poor public policy. In short, expert advice you paid for.
Cabinet imposed it anyway. They did it because it was an easy way to make you think they were doing something about obesity. Such is the nature of politics.
Our current crop of politicians is now considering a ban on social media for kids 16 or under. I am going to address this in my own clumsy way, and try not to lapse into scorn, but it’s not going to be easy.
Some say social media is a boon. Some say it is a curse. I say it is what it is and is here to stay. We as people will all have to get used to it, not ban it and ignore it.
Banning doesn’t work. For starters it’s well nigh impossible to enforce and makes the banned issue more interesting to young people.
I remember as a kid adults tried to ban rock music, making it all the more interesting. I sat through a sermon in which the reverend railed that the rock band KISS was Satan returned to Earth and must be banned to protect young people. Made me run out and get the album.
Smoking under the age of 16 was banned, so I started when I was 12 (note – it was BRUTAL to quit, smoking is stupid). Various religions banned some books, making them more interesting. Over a hundred years ago we banned alcohol here. We all know how that worked.
When my eldest was 16 a group of parents tried to have Alanis Morrisette’s new album Jagged Little Pill banned. They asked me to help. I borrowed her copy, listened to it and it remains to this day one of my favourite albums. This did not endear me to those parents, who banned their kids from listening to it. All those kids owned secret copies.
Where am I going with this? As a parent I taught my kids about the world. I didn’t ban things, I explained them.
This isn’t a debate about the dangers of social media to young minds. This is a reminder that young people need education and guidance, not banning. Banning only makes the banned thing more enticing. I wonder about adults who decide to ban things. Were they not once kids?
The trouble with banning things is it addresses the symptoms but not the problem. Banning fails because banning something doesn’t stop the demand for it.
Nobody likes being told what to do – especially kids. They’re going to do it anyway – we did.
So why the proposed ban? Politicians like to wrap themselves up in righteous causes that get them positive attention and don’t cost anything. Banning social media sends the right message to concerned parents and makes them look like they are doing something. Like the sugar tax, the fact that it doesn’t work is irrelevant.
We in this province have a host of very serious grown-up problems we need our politicians to deal with: healthcare, homelessness, skyrocketing food prices, the Churchill Falls issue – you know the list. Proposing a ban lets politicians of all stripes stand and look serious and show how much they care. They go home feeling good about themselves and, as is often the case in government, nothing actually gets done. It’s feel-good PR. It’s also nonsense.
Politicians need to stop basking in the self-righteous glow of making unenforceable laws, grow up, and deal with the serious difficult issues. Tackle the hard stuff and leave the parenting to the parents.
Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com

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From time to time, I am criticized for being cynical. Fair enough, I am a big boy and I welcome criticism. The truth is I am an eternal optimist with great faith and hope for us all. But I have been around a while and I have eyes.
Case in point. A while back the new Tory Health Minister declared gender-based violence an epidemic. It is. It always has been. It’s a great PR move to bring the issue to the forefront. She is striking a twelve-person task force to “deal with the problem.”
Here’s where people confuse my despair with cynicism. Since her announcement, experts are lining up to go in the media and say all the predictable things, repeat the tired buzzwords they always use. Like “gender-based violence.” Some victims won’t know what gender-based means.
Reports will be written, advocates will suggest giving them more money is a good solution. An ad campaign will be developed and broadcast. Lots of money will be spent on this.
We have seen this all before. My worry is the money won’t make it down to the people who need it. The victims. It usually doesn’t.
Still think I am cynical? Read the most recent Auditor General’s (AG) report on government’s response to rising homelessness. A lot of money was spent – $24 million. The AG reports 34 people got shelter – that’s $706,000 per person. These aren’t my numbers, they are hers. That’s $24 million of our money and homelessness is still rampant. (I have heard unofficially that some of those 34 folks were soon evicted from their new homes).
Government loves to throw money at social problems. There are plenty of people willing to take it. There’s a homelessness industry, an addictions industry, a poverty industry with lots of experts on the payroll. The problem is homelessness, drug addiction and poverty are getting worse.
Nothing seems to be working.
As I have mentioned before, I volunteer at a food bank for pets. One of our friends (I refuse to use the word client) showed up for cat food. In the ghastly terminology of government and other “experts,” she appears to have “complex needs.” She dearly loves her cat and she’s having a tough time because she recently lost her beloved dog. She was sporting a big shiner on her eye. Told us she had fallen off her porch. I ran out to the parking lot after her when she left. Asked her for the truth. She told me.
Are the activists making big salaries and using all the buzzwords in the media going to help this woman? Are spiffy ads made for government at vast expense by advertising agencies (sometimes the ones that do election ads) going to help this woman?
I don’t pretend for a minute I know what is going to help her, but I know what’s not helping her.
She’s just an example that came to mind. I know many women who have been beaten, punched, and even stabbed by men they associate with. Is any of this helping them?
The answer is no. They don’t need an industry funded by the taxpayer dealing with “gender and intimate partner violence.” They need help. Real help now. I know on paper there is help for them, but I don’t see it working.
I don’t see boots on the ground.
This is not cynical. This is a plea for new ideas, new approaches, new ways of helping women (as it is usually, but not always, women who are victims). What is being done now is not working. The answer cannot always be for more tax dollars.
I congratulate the minister for using her position to speak the truth about gender-based violence. My concern is I want new ideas on what can actually be done about it.
Men beating women is an ancient societal problem. It is an epidemic. It has no place in our modern world. This cannot be an ideological or political football. We all need to combat this scourge, not just pay our tax bill and ignore it. Doing that is how we got here.
Like the minister, I am interested in having this conversation. Not with so-called experts but with all manner of people. Are some offended by what I am saying? Maybe someone will be so angry by my comments they will write me or the editor to set me straight.
Here’s hoping!

Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com

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So, over the months I have shared how poorly the Province is doing in providing health care to us. Remember this is a public service, we are the clients and we are paying for the service.
And it is not just NL Health that is failing us. So are the licensing bodies, which should be making every effort to create pathways to ensure every trained medical worker in the province is utilized. Similarly, they should be doing a major ad campaign in the U.S., Ontario and Quebec. Other provinces are hiring hundreds of American trained workers right now.
You have told me your stories. Here are some of them….

• I am 50 and need a knee replacement. I have 15 years of work left, but expect to wait 7-8 years for my surgery. I need my knee today. My friend’s dad who has had four joint replacements is scheduled to have a second knee replacement soon. I am asking him to please leave his new knee in his will for me!
• I am a certified Physicians Assistant from the Canadian military. I served 23 years as a medic, and my retired colleagues in other provinces are working in offshore, mining and remote communities filling the role of doctors. Our training exceeds that of a Nurse Practitioner. But it is not recognized here, so I’m moving.
• I am an internationally trained doctor practicing here for 15 years. Getting licensed as a foreign trained doctor is expensive and time consuming. There is a lot of bias against us. Most of the international docs I know leave for other provinces within two to three years. This is because of unrelenting harassment by MCP. They can audit us several years in the past, judge that our billings are incorrect and demand that thousands of dollars be returned. We have no recourse. No province treats internationally trained doctors as badly as Newfoundland, so we leave and tell others to do the same.
• My husband passed away three and half years ago. The things I saw in the Health Sciences Complex were so alarming and disturbing that I don’t think I will ever be able to forget what he went through. Several times he had to go to the emergency department because he was so ill. He lay on a stretcher there for several days before being finally admitted to a room upstairs. Although he was taken inside, he spent days there in a room, on a stretcher, with a washroom at the end of a hall, too far away for him to get to. The nurses were too busy to come to his aid when he needed to use the bathroom. I stayed with him as much as I could over the days he was there but I, too, became exhausted. l will stay home and die rather than ever go back to St Clare’s or the HSC.

These stories are heartbreaking. I know you and your family share them. Friends, we do not need to put up with this. We deserve much better, but nothing will change until we demand it.
When is enough, enough?
Waiting for someone else to fix this is not working. If we want our health care to change, we need to speak up. There are solutions. If you will join me in the fight for better health care, please contact me at mardicollins7@gmail.com.

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My family’s experience with brain tumours began in 2010. My father Darren was getting ready to head out and haul cod nets when he suddenly suffered a seizure. I remember that day like it was yesterday. After further testing and an MRI, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
At the time, my sister and I were still young and didn’t fully understand what a brain tumour diagnosis meant. We knew our dad was sick, but we couldn’t grasp the long-term impact it would have on our family. Despite the diagnosis, my father faced radiation and chemotherapy treatments with incredible strength and determination. Looking back now I have an even greater appreciation for what he endured. I also have a tremendous appreciation for my mother, who stood beside him through every appointment, treatment, setback, and challenge.
I remember my mother telling me that when my father was diagnosed, questions were raised about whether his children could someday face a similar diagnosis. The answer they received at the time was essentially no, and they were told not to worry about it.
Life carried on but cancer was always there in the background.
In 2019, while I was attending flight school in Gander, I received a phone call from my mother telling me that my father’s cancer had progressed. The months that followed were some of the most difficult of my life. My mother, sister, and I did everything we could to care for him. We made countless trips back and forth to St. John’s for appointments and treatments. We watched as the disease slowly took more and more from him.
At that stage of my life, I had plans, goals, and dreams I was working toward. I loved aviation and was pursuing flight training on a part time basis. However, when my father’s condition worsened, everything else became secondary. I felt a responsibility to be there for him and my family. Looking back I don’t regret that decision for a second, but I never did return to flight training.
My father passed away in March 2020. Losing him was incredibly difficult. To make matters even harder it happened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many families, we were grieving while navigating restrictions and uncertainty. For a long time it felt as though cancer had taken over our lives.
Eventually, I knew I had to keep moving forward. But I found myself at a crossroads. One path I seriously considered was joining the Canadian Armed Forces. It had always been something that interested me. I was drawn to the sense of service, discipline, teamwork, and purpose that comes with military life.
For a period of time, I gave it a lot of thought and considered pursuing that path. However, life took me in a different direction. Instead I continued my education, eventually attending College of the North Atlantic alongside my sister. My sister pursued Medical Laboratory Technology, and I enrolled in Business Administration. We both graduated with honours and eventually found careers with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.
For the first time in years, it felt like life was moving forward again.
Although I missed my father every day, I felt like I was finally able to focus on my future. I eventually decided to pursue another dream of mine: becoming a Registered Nurse. Having worked in Emergency Medical Services as an Emergency Medical Responder after high school, I had always respected nurses and the impact they have on people’s lives. I applied to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Accelerated Program and was accepted for Fall 2025.
Then, in May 2025, everything changed.
I suffered a seizure. After undergoing scans and testing, doctors confirmed that I had a brain tumour.
Ironically, when I received the diagnosis, I wasn’t nearly as shocked as most people would expect. Having lived through my father’s diagnosis and battle, I immediately understood what the words “brain tumour” meant. In some ways, it felt like my life had come full circle.
Since then, I have undergone surgery, radiation treatments, and chemotherapy. Thankfully, I have done very well and I remain incredibly grateful for the care I have received and for the support of my family and friends.
This experience has changed my perspective on life in ways I never expected. It has strengthened my faith, taught me not to take a single day for granted, and reminded me how quickly life can change.
One thing that has also surprised me is the connections I’ve made through this journey. I became friends with my buddy Andrew from Indiana, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour just two months before I was. Despite everything he has gone through, he continued playing college baseball and became one of the top players on his team. His strength, determination, and positive attitude have been an inspiration to me.
I have also tried to continue living life as fully as possible. Since my diagnosis I have travelled to Toronto to watch the Blue Jays, vacationed to Florida, and recently travelled to Montreal to see Luke Combs and was hoping to see the Montreal Canadians in Game 6 but they got put out while I was flying to Montreal -maybe next year! Those experiences have reminded me that while cancer may be part of my story, it does not define my entire life.
All of this brings me to the Brain Tumour Walk.
I decided to participate because brain tumours have shaped my life for more than half of it, first through my father and now through my own diagnosis.
The walk is an opportunity to honour my father’s memory, support others currently facing a diagnosis, and help raise awareness and funding for research. While treatments have improved over the years, there is still a long way to go. In a world filled with medical and technological advances, I believe there is reason to hope for better treatments, better outcomes, and ultimately a cure.
For this year’s walk, I created a team called Compass & Courage.
The compass represents guidance, faith, and staying the course when life becomes uncertain. It also represents my father and the influence he continues to have on my life. Courage represents the strength required to face a diagnosis like this and continue moving forward. The ribbon represents brain tumour awareness.
I walk in memory of my father. I walk for my friend Andrew. I walk for myself. Most importantly, I walk for every individual and family whose lives have been touched by a brain tumour.
My hope is that one day fewer families will have to experience what so many of us have gone through.
Thankfully, I continue to do very well. While brain cancer remains a part of my life, it does not define who I am.
I continue to work in Human Resources with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.
My faith has also become an important part of my journey, and I attend mass as often as I can. It has provided me with strength, hope, and perspective throughout this experience.
Looking ahead, I am exploring opportunities to further my education and continue building my career. Since my diagnosis, I have made it a priority to continue making memories, travelling and enjoying life as fully as possible.
While none of us know what the future holds, I remain positive, hopeful, and determined to keep moving forward.

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The Joint Council of Conception Bay North (JCCBN) is working with Atlantic Canadian firm Thinkwell Research + Strategy to formulate a community safety and well-being plan. At the most recent JCCBN meeting, Thinkwell Vice President of Research Lianne Sarson asked members what safety concerns existed in their communities.
Earlier that day, there had been a police raid on a trap house in Carbonear. With this in mind, Carbonear Deputy Mayor Fred Earle named drugs as a major safety concern for the town. He surmised that other communities likely had similar issues.
JCCBN Chair and Bay Roberts Mayor Geoff Seymour confirmed that drugs were also a big concern in his town.
“Definitely an issue in Bay Roberts,” he said. “The drug culture and everything that comes with it, with the petty crime, the theft, the break-and-enters.”
He said residents are nervous and, on top of locking their doors, are installing lights and cameras on their properties.
“Drugs seem to be the root of all these petty crimes,” said South River Councillor David Petten. He added that they are sometimes the cause of domestic issues and violent crime. “It stems from drugs and alcohol.”
Harbour Grace Deputy Mayor Gary Baker said there is a lot of frustration in the community due to the amount of crime. “There’s frustration with the system as a whole because it’s not taking care of the criminals. It’s taking them off the streets for a few days, then they’re back on the streets again,” he said, referring to the “catch and release” phenomenon by which criminals are quickly returned to the community after being arrested.
Bay Roberts Councillor Dean Franey said there seems to be more criminal activity now than in the past. However, he was not sure if this is because the number of perpetrators has grown, or if would-be criminals simply are not as afraid as they once were because they are aware of the catch and release trend and feel they are not at risk of serious punishment.
After being asked by Sarson if they had seen any change in the rate of drug use in CBN in the past five years, Seymour replied that he thinks there has been a steady increase. Some JCCBN members noted that more serious drugs were now involved, too.
Petten said that, while drugs were the root cause of many petty crimes, it was not the sole cause of the increase of crime in the province. “The situation’s a lot bigger than that,” he said. “I mean, you’ve got major crime organizations operating in this province now that we’ve probably never seen before.” He added that the CBN area has also seen an increase in violent crimes, including murder, in recent years.
The community safety and well-being plan will ideally help address and lessen the risk of certain safety concerns in CBN. For more information, people can visit CBNSafetyPlan.ca. The JCCBN will also be holding focus groups where CBN residents can share their thoughts and experiences to help shape the plan. Updated focus groups can be found on some official town websites and on the Facebook pages of JCCBN communities and organizations such as Communities Against Violence and the Splash Centre.

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Spaniard’s Bay town council was taken by surprise when Deputy Mayor Gerald Sheppard suddenly announced his resignation at the June 9th meeting.
Sheppard, who was elected last year, made the announcement towards the end of the meeting, during the time in which council members can share other business before adjournment. He then promptly gave his letter of resignation to Mayor Tammy Oliver.
“It has been a privilege to serve on council and advocate for the town’s residents,” said Sheppard. “Due to recent events and decisions of council, I feel I am no longer able to accomplish what this position requires. Thank you to the residents and voters of the Town of Spaniard’s Bay for the wonderful opportunity to represent them.”
While the deputy mayor did not specify what “recent events and decisions” he was referring to, the last several town council meetings have seen members butt heads over certain decisions, or the steps taken to arrive at a decision.
Most, if not all, of Sheppard’s fellow council members seemed taken aback by his resignation. Even Mayor Oliver had not been aware he would be resigning that night. She expressed regret that they had not been able to have a discussion about it beforehand.
Councillor Terry Sheppard, a relative of deputy mayor Sheppard and another council member elected in the 2025 municipal election, shared his grievances s well.
“I have also had to seriously reflect on the value I can bring to the current environment and how effective I can be given the way the council’s operating,” said councillor Sheppard. “While I continue to serve—and I’m going to serve for the time being—there’s got to be significant changes in the way we conduct business. Current approach is not working, it’s not acceptable if we expect to serve the community effectively. So, I just want to throw it out there. It’s getting frustrating at times. I hope we can work together better than what we have been doing.”

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The Town of Paradise will upgrade the St. Thomas Line wastewater treatment plant in phases as the project proved too costly to do all at once.

The town received $18.3 million in cost-shared funding to upgrade the plant to a secondary treatment plant to comply with municipal effluent regulations. That amount proved only enough to cover a portion of the upgrades.

“Owner-advisor services for this project was awarded to RV Andersen Associations Ltd. in 2022, however, through the design process, it was soon determined that the funding amount would not cover the full scope of the wastewater treatment plant upgrades,” explained councillor Erin Furlong. “A project amendment was submitted to the funding partners to split the project into three phases, with the current funding amount being dedicated to Phase 1 only. This is currently under review.”

Furlong added that funding has been extended to 2030, and that the town has authorization to operate the treatment plant as is until 2040.
Council approved a change order on June 2 to cover the cost of splitting the project into phases.

“Due to the project being divided into multiple design-build phases to be implemented over an extended time frame, rather than a single construction phase, there will be longer exposure periods for excavation, slopes, native soils, which were not contemplated in the original geo-technical investigative report,” said Furlong. “As a result, the existing geotechnical investigative report requires a revision and expansion to address conditions associated with phased construction and prolonged exposure.”

The change order, the fifth for the project, was approved in the amount of $2,875 HST included.
“So, in the grand scheme of things it’s not a huge amount of money,” noted Furlong.

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