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CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Stephenville airport shuttered as power company pulls the plug
It's lights out at the Stephenville Dymond International Airport. Newfoundland Power confirmed Tuesday afternoon that work was underway to disconnect electrical service there. An aviation notice, called a NOTAM, was released at 4:07 p.m. NT saying the airport was closed. It will be in effect until June 9, at least. Last week, Newfoundland Power told CBC News it issued a seven-day notice to pull the plug due to what it called "outstanding account issues." The airport has struggled financially for decades. Ottawa businessman Carl Dymond purchased the operation in 2023 with big promises to turn things around. They included pledges to spend hundreds of millions of dollars, create thousands of jobs, return passenger service and build gigantic, futuristic drones. None of those plans came to fruition. Instead, the airport experienced operational setbacks and found itself in legal and financial trouble. Those woes include a $2.4-million lawsuit over the installation of a new runway lighting system. A trial is set for 2026. An investor who helped facilitate Dymond's acquisition of the airport won a default $2-million judgment against Dymond personally. Stephenville town council is also looking to collect on a half-million-dollar property tax bill. Earlier this year, the airport was downgraded to a "registered aerodrome," which means it's not subject to ongoing inspection by Transport Canada, but is inspected periodically to verify compliance with regulations. When contacted Tuesday, Dymond declined to do an interview. In a text message, he said he expected the power shutoff to only last a few days.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Stephenville in holding pattern as airport faces possible power cutoff
Social Sharing The lights remained on at Stephenville Dymond International Airport on Thursday. The question is how long that will remain the case — and what happens next, if Newfoundland Power pulls the plug. Earlier this week, the utility confirmed it issued the airport a seven-day "notice of disconnection" due to "outstanding account issues." The Stephenville town council met behind closed doors on Wednesday to discuss the situation. One current councillor — who is also a former mayor — says there is a feeling of "dismay" in the community about the status of the airport. "Right now, at this point in time, it seems like they are facing yet another crisis, which we know very little about," Coun. Tom O'Brien told CBC News. "It's an issue that the airport has to deal with, but it has big consequences for the community as a whole." O'Brien said those consequences include the potential loss of jobs at the airport, and the impact on air ambulance service to the region. On Tuesday, Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell told CBC News that officials have been working on a contingency plan in the event Stephenville's airport can't be used for air ambulance. The minister said a helicopter could be tasked, when appropriate. Other possible options include the use of existing runways in the Codroy Valley and Deer Lake. O'Brien is concerned about that, noting that "time is critical when the patient requires an air ambulance." He said the town could be part of the conversation about possible solutions, but financial aid "can't be on the table." O'Brien noted that the airport is a private enterprise. "We've got to see what the next few days is going to bring," he said. "I guess Mr. Dymond is working on something, although we don't know what. We're just on a wait-and-see pattern right here, right now, which is not a good place to be." The airport has been beset by a cascading series of financial and operational issues since it was taken over by Ottawa entrepreneur Carl Dymond nearly two years ago. The airport is facing a $2.4-million lawsuit over the installation of a new runway lighting system. A trial is set for 2026. Nearly three months ago, the airport had its status downgraded to a "registered aerodrome." A registered aerodrome is not subject to ongoing inspection by Transport Canada, but is inspected periodically to verify compliance with regulations. An investor who helped facilitate Dymond's acquisition of the airport won a default $2-million judgment against Dymond personally. As of earlier this year, the mayor said the airport owed a half-million-dollar property tax bill to the town. CBC News has not been able to reach Dymond for comment this week. Meanwhile, Newfoundland Power said that it is in continued discussions with the airport, and power will not be disconnected on Thursday.
CBC
16-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Fire crews responding to out of control wildfire near Whitbourne
Fire crews are responding to a wildfire considered out of control near Whitbourne on Friday. Provincial forest fire duty officer Jeff Motty told CBC News the fire is burning near Ocean Pond, about 18 kilometres east of Whitbourne. The fire was first reported just after 2 p.m. NT. Motty said the fire is burning adjacent to a Newfoundland Power transmission line, and that the company has been notified. The size of the fire hasn't yet been determined. Fire crews are currently using one pump station to push back the blaze.
CBC
09-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Adam's Cove fire under control, damage assessment still to come, says mayor
State of emergency is still in effect with no timeline for residents to return home A wildfire that forced residents of a rural Newfoundland community to flee their homes was pushed back on Thursday, and is now under control — but the mayor warns rebuilding will take some time as a damage assessment gets underway. The town of Small Point-Broad Cove-Blackhead-Adam's Cove has been under a state of emergency since Wednesday night. More than 20 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, the provincial government said on Thursday, including at least 12 homes. "There's going to be a lot of cleanup. There's a lot of assessment that needs to be done in the area and that'll be the priority now in the upcoming days," Mayor Curtis Delaney told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show. The mayor said he's not positive when residents will be able to return to the community, and hot spots are being monitored over the next few days. "Before anyone goes back into that area, it has to be a safe situation," said Delaney. Newfoundland Power, which had shut off power to the area on Wednesday, was on the scene on Thursday for an assessment. "You can imagine there's a bit of infrastructure damage on their end," Delaney said. The cause of the fire isn't yet known and the investigation will likely start soon, the mayor said. "We can't do anything to bring back some of the structures that have been lost," he said. "But you know, we'll work with them and with different levels of government and see what assistance and what resources that we can provide as a town and as a province." Resources for people evacuated There are still resources in place to help those who have been affected by the fire, says Delaney, including the Small Point Community Centre. The Red Cross and Salvation Army have been offering help since Thursday. The school in Western Bay is also acting as a reception area. "We've actually had an outpouring of support, you know, not only just from the local area, but from outside," Delaney said. "It's just amazing how the area has come together." Delaney says he's thankful to the emergency responders and the work of the countless volunteers who stepped up to help with food and shelter. "Everyone that has come together, and as bad a situation is, things could have been a lot worse. We're just focusing on safety right now." he said. "We'll get people back in as quickly as we can."
CBC
10-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
NDP calls on N.L. government to eliminate HST on all home heating
Skyrocketing power bills from Newfoundland's only utility company has NDP Leader Jim Dinn looking to the past for a solution. Dinn says people are struggling with the sudden spike of their electricity bills, following reports of some Newfoundland Power bills more than doubling. "One constituent of mine, who heats their home and hot water with oil and only uses electricity for her fridge, stove and lights has seen her bill triple," Dinn said on Monday."Others are sitting in the dark, lighting candles, calling on blankets to keep warm and choosing between food, their mortgage or their electric bill." Taking a page from the PC government's 2012 playbook, Dinn is asking the current provincial government to re-enact the residential energy rebate, which introduced an eight per cent rebate on electricity and heating fuel — eliminating the harmonized sales tax. "Removing the provincial portion of the HST from all forms of home heating, something that has been done before, would go a long way to help people struggling to heat their homes," Dinn said. 'Not possible' But Finance Minister Siobhan Coady says removing HST from home heating is not possible. She says that's a federal responsibility. "The province of Newfoundland and Labrador doesn't have much control, if any control, on what is included in HST," Coady said. Dinn maintains that HST can be removed with a push from the province. "Not only is she not going to ask them, she's not interested in asking," he said. "It can be done if there's a political will to do so. But the minister has indicated that they have no political will to do so." Cold weather, high winds Glenda Power, spokesperson for Newfoundland Power, told CBC News cold temperatures and high winds contribute substantially to power usage, as heating systems have to work harder to maintain a steady temperature within the home. She says complaints about increased power usage are common during winter, and customers don't pay for power they don't use. "Increased usage doesn't mean you've turned your thermostat up," Power told CBC News on Monday. The Public Utilities Board has asked Newfoundland Power to file a report on how it ensures the accuracy of meter readings and investigate whether billing errors could have occurred given a high volume of complaints to the board. The PUB expects Newfoundland Power's findings to be reported to the board by March 21.
