CBC Newfoundland Morning

“We cannot solve a problem we do not understand, so the goal of this work is to build that understanding.”

That, more or less, is the premise of a recent research project titled “Pull Together: Addressing Housing Insecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador”. The report came out this week, and researchers want to understand how big a problem housing insecurity is in rural parts of the province. Housing researcher and consultant Hope Jamieson prepared it for Choices for Youth and Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.

The company doing wind testing on the Port au Port Peninsula says it's disappointed by vandalism at one of its sites. In late February, someone damaged solar panels and windows at the World Energy GH2 site, near the community of Mainland. The RCMP called it "intentional property damage," and they note that it's the second time the company has been struck by vandals. In January, 2023, heavy equipment owned by a contractor working for World Energy GH2 was damaged. CEO Sean Leet spoke with the CBC's Arlette Lazarenko.

Parents of students at Corner Brook Intermediate met Wednesday evening to talk about a dramatic increase in bullying and violence at the school. About 20 people shared stories of what their children have experienced, and what they'd like to see done to protect them. Charges of assault and assault causing bodily harm were laid against two students in February. It's alleged that a 15-year old male and a 14-year old female attacked a student. The student was taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Sabrina Ellsworth created the Facebook Group 'Corner Brook Families Against Violence in Schools,' and organized Wednesday's meeting. She spoke with the CBC's Alex Kennedy.

Plans are underway for this year's Targa Newfoundland event. The competitive car rally takes vehicles through communities on paved roads that have been closed to the public. The routes cover from Central to Eastern Newfoundland, and drivers have the help of a navigator in the car. Wayne Lorenzen is the Media and Communications Coordinator for Targa Newfoundland.

Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre held a rally in Gander Wednesday night. About a hundred supporters gathered at the Quality Inn to listen to his stand against the upcoming carbon tax, and to hear what changes his party would make if it formed the next federal government. One of the people in the audience was Hare Bay Mayor Darlene Collins. She spoke with the CBC's Troy Turner about Poilievre before the event started.

RCMP are trying to find out who damaged equipment at a wind-testing site on the Port au Port Peninsula.The vandalism happened in late February. Corporal Jolene Garland is media relations officer with the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador..

The Nature Conservancy of Canada has set aside more public land in the province to help protect it. More than 26-hundred hectares were officially earmarked for that purpose this month, in Indian Bay, Corner Brook, Elliston, and Whitbourne. The recognition comes from a partnership between the NCC and Newfoundland and Labrador's Stewardship Association of Municipalities. Piers Evans is the program director for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Newfoundland and Labrador.

More land in Newfoundland and Labrador has been set aside for protection. More than 26-hundred hectares of public land were officially recognized as protected areas earlier this month. It's in four municipalities: Indian Bay, Corner Brook, Elliston, and Whitbourne. The recognition is the result of a partnership between the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador's Stewardship Association of Municipalities. Piers Evans is the program director for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Member of the House of Assembly for Humber-Bay of Islands is raising concerns about whether radiation therapy will be available when the new hospital opens in Corner Brook. The hospital is expected to open this summer, and it will have the province's second radiation therapy facility. But MHA Eddie Joyce is concerned that a key staff person has not yet been hired.

A new episode from a popular online docu-series called "Canadiana" focuses on the strange, true story of -- get this -- a WHALE heist that happened back in the 1500s, around Red Bay, Labrador. Ashley Brook is a producer with Canadiana, and she spoke with Newfoundland Morning's David Newell.