The National Hockey League (NHL) started their play offs on Tuesday, May 2nd.

The first two games included Seattle Kraken vs. Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kraken beat Stars 5-4, and Panthers beat Leafs 4-2.

Last night was Edmonton Oilers vs. Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils vs Carolina Hurricane.

Knights beat Oilers 6-4 and Hurricanes beat Devils 5-1.

Tonight is Florida Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken vs Dallas Stars.

We will have games announced tomorrow, including Saturday and Sunday.

The community freezers along the coast are awaiting shipment and finding almost bare freezers.

Nain had a generous donation from Vale, of some dry goods included in gift bags.

Hopedale still has a large quantity of caribou and musk ox from the shipment that was sent in.

Makkovik still has char available, and a small quantity of Cod fish

Postville has cod fish available, and all 5 communities are still awaiting their next shipment of caribou.

The Provincial Government has introduced their proposed amendments to Memorial University Act.

Debate began on the issue in the House of Assembly this morning.

The proposed charges include changing the governance structure of the Board of Regents to allow for teaching staff on the board, incorporating more gender language, and other administrative changes.

Government says changes to the Board of Regents is part of a commitment made during the MUN strike to allow faculty representation on the board.

They say further amendments will be considered following the Auditor General’s review.

PC Education Critic, Barry Petten says his party will be supporting the change, but they are looking towards what is yet to come.

That being the AG report, as well as the MUN Act. He is imploring government to “take the bull by horns,” and take control of the university to keep it on track.

Courtesy VOCM News.

Last year, Twin Flames was scheduled to come to Nunatsiavut but was cancelled due to weather.

The Nunatsiavut Health and Social Development presents Twin Flames’ Labrador Tour.

They will finally be coming to Nain to perform on May 14 at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre.

Hopedale – May 15 at the Nanuk Centre

Postville – May 16 at the Community Centre

Makkovik – May 17 at the Community Hall, and

Rigolet – May 18 at the Community Centre.

The showtimes will be from 7:30-9pm with free admissions.

The Nain LATP office has a councillor replaced and is now offering training for Beneficiaries.

Tammy Barry is the Nunatsiavut Career Councillor for Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

She says they are partnering with VALE to seek individuals who are interested in getting training, to work with Underground mining.

Click here to hear more from Barry.

This Friday, May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG).

While many women and girls experience intimate partner violence, a significant number of Nunatsiavummiut have been murdered over the years as a result of it.

Nunatsiavut has safe houses in Nain, Hopedale and Rigolet, and help is always available.

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement are encouraged to wear red in observation of this National Day of Awareness (held in conjunction with Red Dress Day), or by hanging a red dress in your window.

Events to mark Red Dress Day will be held in Nain from 12 noon to 5pm in partnership with the provincial governments Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU).

President Johannes Lampe will open with a prayer at the JSC followed by seal skin red dress brooch and ornament making, kids craft table and a memorial walk.

Elder Sarah Ponniuk will also conduct a circle throughout the weekend, May 6-8 from 9am to 4pm at the Pulâpvik Building for families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

The Member of House of Assembly (MHA) for Corner Brook is raising questions about Marine Atlantic and a surcharge meant to off set the rising cost of fuel.

The surcharge is rising to 17% from 13, something that has resulted in a huge out cry from the province, and demands for a reversal of the increase.

Gerry Byrne told VOCM OPEN LINE with Paddy Daley that the surcharge does not simply offset increased costs.

Byrne claims he’s received verification in writing from Marine Atlantic CEO Murray Hupman that the fuel surcharge does not just offset increased fuel costs, but also goes into general revenue. “So it is not a fuel surcharge in the classic sense,” says Byrne.

Marine Atlantic’s service is entrenched in NL’s Terms of Union with Canada. Byrnes believes there is cause for a Constitutional challenge to surcharge increase.

He alleges misrepresentation on the fuel surcharge and a breach of the Constitution.

Premier Andrew Furey is calling on the federal government to reverse the Marine Atlantic rate increase, and says the entire cost-recovery system for the vital link needs to be overhauled.

Furey says the increase in the fuel surcharge from 13 to 17 percent is punitive to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the tourists who come here.

He raised the matter with federal Transport Minister, Omar Alghabra last week.

Furey questioned the fairness of the increase on your VOCM Morning with Ben Murphy given the fact that the toll rate on the Confederation Bridge linking Prince Edward Island (PEI) with New Brunswick has been frozen.

He indicated he is not sure how the federal government reconciles the freezing of toll rates on the Confederation Bridge with fuel surcharge increases on Marine Atlantic, a service that is enshrined in the Terms of Union. Furey wants the surcharge increase reversed, and “everything needs to be examined” because “the cost-recovery system is not working.”

Courtesy VOCM News.

The Torngat Fish Producers Co-operative Society Limited will be holding their community meetings and Annual General Meeting this month.

The community meetings will be held in Rigolet, Hopedale, Nain and Makkovik, and the Annual General Meeting will be held in Postville on May 24 at 10am at the Community Centre.

The community meetings will be starting in Rigolet today May 3rd at 7pm at the Town Hall.

They will be in Hopedale tomorrow May 4th at 7pm at the New DHSD building, Nain on May 16 at 7pm at the Town Hall, and then in Makkovik on May 17 at 7pm at the Town Hall.

Here is the schedule for the AGM:

They will Call to Order, Roll Call, review and adoption of agenda, Minutes for 2022 previous meeting, review audited financial statements, report 2022 operations, proposed 2023 operations, new business, and then elections, and the by-law amendments to Torngat Fish Producers Co-operative.

If there are any questions, please contact the Head Office at 709-896-3992.

There was a meeting held here in Nain earlier this week with Parks Canada.

It was held on May 1st and 2nd at the Pulâpvik Room.

Sammy Unatweenuk is a Co-Management Board Member for Torngat National Park.

He says there were people from different places such as Quebec, Makivvik, Parks Canada, and Nunatsiavut Government.

He adds that he was very happy to see local hunters from Nain and George River in the meeting.

Click here to hear more from CMB Member, Sammy later in the program.