Latest from Patrick Butler
N.L. PCs began election year with 17 times less cash than Liberals
New financial statements show Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal Party ended 2024 with about 17 times more money in the bank than the Progressive Conservatives, with a looming provincial election slated to be called between now and Oct. 14.
Muskrat Falls lines failed 6 times since January
The Muskrat Falls transmission lines failed six times during the first quarter of 2025, although Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says the problems had no impact on electricity customers.
N.L. schools ordered to destroy new books containing 'inaccurate information' on Indigenous people
Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Education ordered its schools to destroy thousands of books purchased two years ago because they contained 'inaccurate information' about the territories, culture and history of the province's Indigenous peoples.
Keeping Holyrood power plant open beyond 2030 would cost hundreds of millions
Keeping the aging Holyrood Thermal Generating Station open just five years beyond its potential 2030 retirement date would cost Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro more than $700 million.
Liberal leadership contenders not required to disclose campaign contributions
Both candidates in the race for the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party leadership – a contest that will automatically elect the province’s next premier – said this week they’ll make all their campaign donations and expenses public.
New Stephenville airport owner still hasn't paid any property tax, bill grows to $500K
The mayor of Stephenville says the new owner of the town’s airport — who has promised to bring back commercial flights, pump hundreds of millions of dollars into construction and build futuristic drones — still hasn't paid any property tax.
N.L. Hydro 'taken to the cleaners' on Churchill Falls MOU, says former CEO
A former head of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro says the Crown corporation has been duped by Hydro-Québec, which he believes should have paid tens of billions more for Churchill Falls power under a new memorandum of understanding unveiled in December.
Turkish man 'smuggled' from St-Pierre to N.L. after meeting sailboat owner in bar
A Turkish national flew from Paris to the islands of St-Pierre-Miquelon in hopes of sneaking into Canada, but with no idea how. That is, until he met a Canadian sailboat owner in a bar, who offered to transport him to Newfoundland.
Capping power rate hikes due to Muskrat Falls will cost $3.5B by 2030, says N.L. Hydro report
Capping power rate increases due to the vastly overbudget Muskrat Falls project will cost $3.5 billion between now and 2030, according to the latest forecast prepared by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.
N.L. government paid $300K for ferry thruster it doesn't need
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure "could not provide an explanation for the purchase" of a ferry thruster, according to a report from the province’s comptroller general that found "significant procedural deficiencies" regarding procurement and inventory.