Questions are already being raised about whether or not government will issue a second cost of living cheque to residents in the year ahead.

Those aged 18 and older who earned less than $100,00 were entitled to the $500 benefit to help cope with the rising costs of living.

The price of essentials such as food and housing have not seen a decline, meaning the benefit cheque was a short-term solution to a long-term problem.

Finance Minister Siobhan Coady says they’ve done a number of things this year to help combat rising costs for those feeling the pinch.

She says they’ve increased the income supplement and seniors benefit by 10 percent to provide long-term relief. They’re also bringing the cost of childcare to $10 a day.

When it comes to whether or not government will cut any more cost of living cheques, Coady says that’s still up in the air.

She says the ability to provide such a benefit depends on how things are looking financially in the year ahead. She assures that they will do what they can to help people.

The Nain Husky Centre opens today.

Edward Flowers is the Torngat Minor Hockey Centre coach.

He says the rink will be ready for ice skating today and will start regular winter activities once all arena staff are hired.

There will be two categories for general skating; ages 12 and under at 3pm and 7pm for 13 and up.

He added he is waiting for the Torngat Minor Hockey players to register their names first before the hockey season opens next week.

They can be picked up at the Nain Husky Centre from Monday through Friday, 1-5pm and 6-9pm, and the fee is $61 and can be paid at the Nain ICG office and at the JS Centre during office hours.

What a time for our youth to start skating again this winter.

The Makkovik Inuit Community Government have some plans in place for their next joint management meeting.

Barry Andersen is the AngajukKâk.

He says they are building a couple fire hydrant houses over the fire hydrants at the new subdivision, installing new playground equipment and getting upgrades for a sewer outfall.

Andersen adds the sea ice is starting to freeze and there is a bit of ice in the western side of Makkovik Bay.

Click here to hear what else is going on with the Makkovik Inuit Community Government with Andersen.

Public Health has confirmed that the first case of the new Omicron XBB1.5 has been detected in NL.

The variant is considered to be the most transmissible strain to date, but Public Health says there is no indication at this time that it results in more severe illness.

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Janice Fitzgerald says geomatic testing at the local microbiology lab detected the newest strain.

Dr. Fitzgerald added the new variant being more transmissible might be the most advantageous situation.

Based on what is being seen in other countries, Dr. Fitzgerald expects that the new variant will become the dominant strain circulating.

Courtesy from VOCM news.

Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation 50/50 Ticlet fundraiser was the biggest ever for 2022.

Rebecca Dutton is the President and CEO for the foundation.

She says the foundation raised a grand total of $384,000 that closed on Saturday, December 30, 2022.

Dutton added half of the money raised will be going to a winner on Friday, January 12 this year.

We will have information once the ticket has been drawn.

The provincial government is reporting four deaths due to COVID-19 in the last two weeks of December.

There are 35 new hospitalizations, five of whom are in critical care.

Lab-confirmed cases over the holidays remained steady, with most days reporting 25 cases of less, with the exception of December 29, which saw 30 cases.

As well, government is now reporting that just over 24 per cent of the total eligible population is up to date on their COVID vaccines. In case, up-to-date means the percent of the total population who have either received a booster or completed a primary series within the last 6 months.

The information being reported is for the period of December 18-31, a slight change to the way numbers were previously reported. That means some of what is being reported may have already been covered in the update given on December 21.

Tackling issues in the healthcare system is governments first priority heading to 2023.

That’s according to Premier Andrew Furey of NL.

He describes the current situation as both a time of disruption and equally a time of opportunity to recreate and reimagine the healthcare system.

Furey said that will require change, and change can be hard, but the want to make sure they are employment short, medium, and long term solutions to create. a sustainable system.

Courtesy VOCM News.

The province was on the verge of meeting affordable housing needs, and then COVID-19 struck- as a result of the waitlist for NL Housing units are increasing according to Minister responsible, John Abbot.

He said rent supplements are being used, where possible, to house people in a community where provincial housing units are not available.

“But it continues to grow,” said Abbot.

The rental market is very tight, and he said government is talking to private developers to see how they can be supported to build more housing as quickly as possible.

Courtesy VOCM News.

Health care officials are watching closely a new rapidly spreading Omicron subvariant.

The World Health Organization says the XBB.1.5 subvariant is the most transmissible version of COVID so far, but it’s still not known whether it makes people sicker.

Dalhousie University infectious disease specialist, physician and researcher Dr. Lisa Barrett says the subvariant emerged in the last few months.

Barrett says there are still lots of unknowns about the mutation, including whether or not previous infections or vaccines will help protect you.

She says it doesn’t appear to be more virulent than other strains and subvariants, but they still don’t know what its impact might be on long COVID and overall immunity over time.

Courtesy of VOCM News

They have slight number of projects on the go in the community of Postville.

First project they are working on is cleaning up the dump site, also looking at the completion of the board walk, and are planning on getting a third lift station, as well as a new sand pit, etc.

We’ve spoke with AngajukKâk Glenn Sheppard of Postville.

He say’s there are a lot of projects to be done during the year of 2023, and expect to have all projects done by fall of 2023.

Click here to hear what Sheppard have to say on his projects.