Two men reported missing off the coast of Newfoundland are now considered lost at sea, police said in a media release Wednesday, confirming it has ceased active search efforts for them.

The 10-day search and rescue effort involved multiple agencies, including the RCMP, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Armed Forces.

The two men, a 20-year-old and a 30-year-old, had departed in a 14-foot aluminum boat near Lawrence Harbour, on Nov. 13 for a hunting expedition.

They were reported past due on Sunday evening, launching a wide-ranging search.

On Nov. 15, searchers reported finding debris — later confirmed to be the overturned boat and personal items — floating in the water about three nautical miles north of Black Island, Notre Dame Bay.

The location was about 15 miles from their starting point, according to a coast guard superintendent.

Rescuers scoured “thousands of square nautical miles” by water, air and ground in an effort to find the men, the RCMP said.

A police investigation will remain open, the RCMP continued, “with any new evidence or sightings considered and pursued.”

The Nunatsiavut Government is seeking information regarding the availability of one more staff housing units in the Inuit Communities of Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville and Rigolet for leasing for a duration of 12-24 months. The size of the units could range between 1-3 bedrooms.

Business or individuals who have housing units that may be available for leasing in the above noted communities should provide the following information to the Nunatsiavut Government:

• The community name and street address of the property; and
• The full name of the legal owner(s) of the property; and
• A written summary of the size and condition of the property including the number and size of any existing bedrooms, living areas, washrooms, etc.
• An existing price for which the owner is prepared to lease the property.

Interested people should submit the above information by fax or email no later than 4:00 pm on December 10, 2021 at the Nunatsiavut Government offices in Makkovik, Nunatsiavut and address to:

Terry Rice, Property Manager
Nunatsiavut Government
P.O Box 92, Makkovik, NL A0P 1J0
Telephone: (709) 923-2365 Ext. 228
Fax: (709) 923-2366
Email: terry.rice@nunatsiavut.com

The Nunatsiavut Government is not currently seeking to enter into a lease for the housing units and the NG is not obligated to enter into a lease with people who submit information in response to this call for information.

Fuel prices are down across the board on the island this morning, but most of Labrador is waking up to some significant increases.

On the island, Western Labrador and Churchill Falls, prices are down.

Gas has decreased by 1.8 cents and diesel is down by 2.4 cents. Furnace oil has gone down by nearly one and a half cents and stove oil has dropped by just over 2 cents.

Propane sees the biggest change, dropping by 3.5 cents.

A much different story for the rest of Labrador, however.

The Public Utilities Board says winter supply for those zones will soon be completed. As a result, they have implemented a seasonal suspension of maximum price adjustments for gas, diesel, and stove oil—reflecting the supply of winter product to the region. That’s resulting in substantial increases. In all other parts of Labrador gas is up by 8.8 cents, diesel has jumped by 15 cents, and stove oil is up by just over 13 cents.

The PUB says the suspension will be in effect until resupply to those zones in the spring.

The Community Employment Enhancement Program is offered in each community ever year; this is to help individuals who need more hours to qualify for Employment Insurance.

Marjorie Flowers is the AngajukKâk with the Hopedale Inuit Community Government.

She says that they are waiting for applicants to come in and a couple people already came in.

Flowers adds that the hiring is through Service Canada and not the ICG.

Click here to hear more of what the Hopedale AngajukKâk has to say about the Enhancement Program.

Today, Wednesday, November 24, Newfoundland and Labrador has four new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised regarding quarantine according to current guidelines.

In the Eastern Health region:
· One between 20-39 years of age; and
· One 70 years of age and older.

Both cases are females. One is a contact of a previously known case and one is related to international travel.

In the Central Health region:
· One between 50-59 years of age; and
· One 70 years of age and older.

Both cases are males and are contacts of previously known cases.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its eighteenth death from COVID-19. The individual, a male from the Central Health region, was 70 years of age and older. The department is sending its condolences to this individual’s family and asks everyone to respect the family’s privacy at this time.

There have been two new recoveries in the Central Health region and 2,004 people have recovered. There is one person in hospital because of COVID-19.

There are currently 13 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:
· Eastern Health – 6
· Central Health – 5
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
· Western Health – 2

The number of tests that have been administered is not available at this time due to the ongoing IT outage.

OK Radio contacted some stores in Hopedale, Rigolet, Postville and Nain to see if they are ready for the winter season.

Darren Smith is the Manager for Northern in Rigolet

He says that the store basically has everything in the store and not sure if they need anything but there might be some more coming on the boat. He also says that Christmas wrapping paper and Christmas Lights will be coming from Happy Valley-Goose Bay sometime in December.

We spoke with the manager for the Franks General Store in Hopedale.

He says they are doing okay and ready for the winter season. They are waiting for more supplies, groceries, house supplies, hardware and more.

In Nain, Max Gullingham is the new manager for Northern.

Gullingham said that the store is full and ready for the next six months. He says they are waiting for some water, furniture and other general stock that will be coming on the next boat.

Katrina Loman is the new manager for Quickstop.

Loman says that Quickstop is basically fully stocked for the winter. They have some groceries to wait for on the next boat. Loman would like to add that if there is anyone that has some suggestions for stock to be added to the store, anyone can let her know.

In Postville, Winston Sheppard is the manager for Sheppard’s Variety.

He says that they got most of their winter supply in but there is more coming in. They are waiting on some building materials and some groceries that will be coming on the next boat.

It is day 2 of the Nunatsiavut Assembly Sitting in Hopedale.

The Assembly Sitting resumed at 9 am this morning.

Here are the agenda items for the day:

They started the morning with a prayer, Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery.

Followed by Minister and Members’ statements, returns to Oral Questions, Oral Questions, Written Questions, and Written Questions, Petitions, and Response to Petitions.

Special Committee report on the electronic voting alternatives to support the Canadian Constituency, Tabling of Documents, notices of motions, and notices of motions for first reading of bills.

Motions 01-4(11) Presentations by the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Implementation Trust; the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Settlement Trust and the Tasiujatsoak Trust in the Committee of the Whole (COW).

Motion 02-4(11) Extending the effect of the Special Standing Orders for the Conduct of the Assembly during the OVID-19 Pandemic.

First reading of bills – Bill 2021-04 the Election Dates Amendments Bill, 2021, Second reading of bills, assent of bills, and adjournment.

N.L. is expecting to receive its first deliveries of the pediatric vaccines within the next 48 hours.

It will be made available to kids aged 5-11 in Schools and in Community Clinics.

“When it comes to vaccinating children in the province,” Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says, “this is the last major hurdle we need to get through in the COVID-19 marathon.”

Appointments are now available through the COVID-19 vaccine booking website at www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/vaccine.

If an appointment is not available in your area currently, please continue to monitor the COVID-19 vaccine booking site.

Vaccines will also be offered in schools.

Further details will be available through your child’s school in the coming days.

Vaccines will be available in a variety of settings to give families options for what works best for their situation.

Availability will be led by Regional Health Authorities in schools and in mass vaccination clinics throughout the province.

The press conference is ongoing, and we will keep you up to date.

There are many interesting Inuktitut stories out there, when Inuit Elders tell their own stories.

Adam Lidd from Nain tells us about how the Fall season used to be back in the day; preparing for the cold days ahead and when the first snowfall used to be.

He also says that the men used to gather to meet before going hunting out on the land.

Click here to hear more from Lidd on what he remembers from the fall season.

This Sunday, November 28th, 2021 is Advent 1.

With this Holiday, OKalaKatiget Society will be off the air and only airing the special Church Services.

OK Radio will be airing the 10am Service and 5pm Service.

Again, OKalaKatiget will be off the air and will be back to regular programing on November 29th, 2021.

We would like to remind our audience that if you wish to make requests, you are asked to do so before Friday, November 26th, 2021.