Twin Cities News

Welcome to Twin Cities News – St. John's & Mt. Pearl. Covering community news for the voiceless. Covering homelessness, community events, investigative/undercover journalistic operations that consists of covering true Crime, Municipal and Provincial Government including corruption and cover-up.

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  • Voter Distrust Emerges as Federal Election Believed to Have Been Rigged

    Some voters in the Twin Cities and across Canada claim the federal election was stolen.

    Adam Rose
    Twin Cities News

    Jane Drover of St. John’s at a polling station. Twin Cities News

    Across the country, many conservative supporters feel the federal election was rigged to elect Mark Carney, who was selected on March 9 as the new Liberal leader to replace Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation on January 6.

    Many Conservative Canadians, like Jane Drover, have expressed their dismay over the April 28 election loss, stating that it had been stolen from the Conservatives.

    “This election had been rigged, ballots altered or dumped, election officials probably paid off to have the Liberals win,” said Drover.

    Elections Canada, St. John’s Signal Hill voter ballot. Twin Cities News.

    Conservative Canadians feel the ballots have been tampered with. They claim the pencil-marked X from the Conservatives was erased, and then an X for the Liberals was pencilled in.

    These are strong allegations; such tampering would have occurred during the official count if it had occurred.

    The advance polls had a record-breaking turnout, triggering concerns that the election was being tampered with, and poll workers removed ballots from the polling sites.

    Voter distrust is spreading in Canada, and B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad alleges that non-citizens may have voted in the provincial election in January.

    Rustad presented 45 voting irregularities, prompting him to call for a review in British Columbia, even though he does not have solid evidence for the allegation.

    Before the April 28 election night, Pierre Poilievre’s polling numbers were high, hovering above 50 per cent. Those numbers started to decline rapidly, resulting in 39.2 per cent of votes on the night of the election.

    Unfortunately, Poilievre was seen as an ally to U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, which caused Canadians to turn their backs on Poilievre due to the trade war Trump started.

    As it turns out, Mark Carney, a businessperson, is allied with Donald Trump. Earlier in 2024, Carney relocated his Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. company to the state of New York, where he held 409,300 shares, totalling 6.8 million USD, before he took the option to quit for his new political role, and now the recently elected Prime Minister of Canada.

    Earlier in March, during a news conference in London, Carney attempted to avoid reporters when questioned about the details of his investments in the company. Carney said he is complying with the rules that Parliament has laid out and will continue to comply.

    Carney plans to meet with President Trump on May 6. Carney also said he would call for a by-election at the Conservative Party’s request when they are ready, as the Alberta MP for Battle River-Crowfoot steps down for Poilievre to run in place.

  • Poilievre’s Popularity Increases As Carney Continues Trudeau’s Failing Platform

    Adam Rose
    Twin Cities News

    Conservatives are gaining popularity in the Twin Cities of Newfoundland this week as Carney plans to coast on the former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s failed plan for Canadians.

    Many business owners in St. John’s and Mount Pearl face further hardship under the federal Liberals’ plan to phase out oil and gas, and doing so would be disastrous to the province and could cause severe crippling of businesses within St. John’s and Mount Pearl – the provinces largest business sector.

    Most voters are swaying towards conservatives in record-breaking numbers, provincially and nationwide.

    Poilievre has promised safe change for Canadians. This change comes packaged with lowering taxes and funding more police organizations to restore safety in Canada.

    Poilievre has promised to cut $55 billion in Liberal waste and try to reduce the national debt each Canadian owes—$90,000.

    Under Carney, the Liberal economic plan would add $130 billion to the Canadian deficit, totalling a quarter of a trillion dollars in inflationary debt.

    The additional debt will drive up the cost of food, fuel, and housing, causing tremendous economic suffering for all Canadians.

    Canadian economist Trevor Tombe said Mark Carney’s platform is reckless and irresponsible.

    Canadians in Newfoundland are already struggling because the irresponsible Liberal government has imposed tremendous debt on small business owners and working families.

    “Carney imposes raising taxes and gives little tax relief to hard-working Canadians who simply can’t afford to pay more taxes,” said Poilievre.

    Canadians could risk entering another depression not seen since the 1930s under the Liberal government.

    Despite the environmental transition in energy production towards renewables and away from fossil fuels, oil and gas will remain essential energy sources. 

    As of 2023, crude oil and natural gas reserves were estimated to have a present value of $230,791 million. Our recoverable bituminous coal reserves were valued at $200,141 million, while established crude bitumen reserves (oil sands) were $670,532 million. Therefore, the total present value of these three established resources is about $1.1 trillion.

    New technology extends Canadian abilities to access resources and, therefore, more enormous proven reserves. Market prices are driven by demand and supply, which also change value over time.

    Recoverable oil and gas energy reserves represent over one-third of Canada’s current GDP. 80 per cent of reserves in the ground hold significant potential income and wealth. Streamlining development could generate a substantial boost to Canada’s economic growth.

  • Ode to Newfoundland Reinstated During MUN Convocation Ceremonies

    Adam Rose
    Twin Cities News
    Courtesy of:
    Adam Rose
    Kicker News College of the North Atlantic – St. John’s

    The Memorial University of Newfoundland Senate Committee voted to overturn the 2022 cancellation of the singing of the Ode to Newfoundland during MUN convocation ceremonies. The ode will be back in the spotlight during the convocation in May.

  • Newfoundland Power Customers Feeling Negative About Internal Audit

    Alice Brown, Jane Drover, and Cindy Freake are fed up with recent high electrical prices, considering Trump’s Tariffs have spared Newfoundland’s energy sector.

    Adam Rose
    Twin Cities News

    On April 15, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro filed an application with the Public Utilities Board. They are seeking approval for rate adjustments in collaboration with Newfoundland Power Inc. to limit the rate increase associated with hydro costs to 2.25 per cent for island domestic customers for July 1.

    Customers are outraged over the future increase planned for this coming summer and have been fuming for the past 5 months over the higher-than-normal electrical bills.

    During Dec. 2024, Jan. and Feb., Newfoundland Power issued high-pain-staking bills to many customers throughout the province.

    Customers have expressed their frustration regarding the high billing, stating they did not turn the heat up because they could not afford to.

    “Something is not right. Not every meter has a problem, yet everybody is complaining,” says Alice Brown, who has been a Newfoundland Power customer for 40 years.

    The customers have said they keep track of their meter readings, and the numbers do not add up, nor does the Newfoundland Powers audit.

    “Nobody came by to inspect my meter, not even when I was not home, or my alarm clock would be flashing ‘twelve o’clock,’ ‘twelve o’clock,’ ‘twelve o’clock.’” says Jane Drover.

    Drover has been a customer for 50 years and has never seen such an expensive bill as high as it is now — from $100 to $356.

    Cindy Freake has been a new resident in a second-floor apartment building since March. She said she expected her electrical bill to decrease significantly as she consumes less electricity in her apartment than in her townhouse.

    “My December 2024 bill was $130 and shot up to over $300 in January and $400 in February, so I downsized from a townhouse to a 3-bedroom apartment,” says Freake.  

    Brown, Freake, and Drover reside in St. John’s. The three have agreed that they are fed up with the high electrical prices, considering Trump’s Tariffs have spared Newfoundland’s energy sector.

    Brown, Freake, and Drover say they do not agree with the Newfoundland Power internal audit or with the Public Utilities Board’s use of the excuse that this winter was colder than the previous year.

    Brown, Freake, and Drover compared their electrical bills, discussed their power consumption, and kept the heaters on low when at home while each said to be wearing sweaters, warming up in their cars, and when spending the coldest days at the mall their heaters at home are turned off. 

    According to Newfoundland Power’s stakeholder and communications director, Glenda Power, “Newfoundland Power conducted an internal audit, meters were tested and passed with a 99.9 per cent accuracy.”

    According to the Public Utilities Board, the audit conducted is accurate. This winter had windy conditions and cold days, which usually caused people to increase their power consumption.

  • Some St. John’s homeless feel voiceless and discarded like trash

    “The City did sign onto the Housing Accelerator Fund last year, which spells out some provisions they can use to make affordable housing more incentivized to get developed.” – Doug Pawson, executive director, End Homelessness St. John’s

    Adam Rose
    Twin Cities News

    Homeless people squatting on property destroyed by fire on Carter’s Hill in St. John’s.

    The streets of St. John’s have become a place nobody wants to call home.

    But the number of homeless people is a growing concern.

    According to the latest End Homelessness St. John’s, there were 258 individuals experiencing homelessness in August 2023. 

    The group says homelessness is quite often underreported and that the actual number is higher.

    The organization estimates more than 800 people experience homelessness in St. John’s per year.

    Youth made up 38 per cent of those experiencing homelessness in 2022. Also in 2022, three per cent of individuals experiencing homelessness identified as Indigenous, 35 per cent identified as female, and 62 per cent identified as male.

    According to one man outside the Wiseman Centre, a homeless shelter in St. John’s, many of his homeless friends are “discarded like trash,” having to sleep on the streets.

    Some of the men said they had difficulty obtaining a room at the centre. One reason is the fear of exceeding the maximum number of people allowable under fire code regulations.

    Another reason is the violation of the rules, such as prohibitions against smoking, drug use and violent behaviour. 

    Some men who stay at the Wiseman Centre said they are waiting for permanent housing and feel their voices are being ignored. They said they feel that they are discarded like garbage because they are addicted to opioid drugs that the government approved in the past.

    Some of the homeless men also said because they are on social services, now known as income support through the Department of Seniors and Children Services, they are being pushed to the bottom of the list for permanent housing.

    Some homeless men said Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation are supposed to help homeless people, but they feel like it doesn’t.

    According to an application form for public housing, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation requires 25 percent of an applicant’s income.

    According to Doug Pawson at End Homelessness, the city last year signed onto a Housing Accelerator Fund program, which spells out some provisions the city can use to incentivize developers to build affordable housing. .

    At the provincial level, there have been no decisions on rent or vacancy controls. The province did announce a five-point housing plan in 2024, but that plan is not solely for affordable housing. 

    Pawson said his organization takes a human rights approach to ending homelessness with partner organizations.

    “Working together ensures those folks experiencing homelessness will have access to equitable service delivery at any organization in the community.,” said Pawson.

    Related similar articles : Drug counsellor predicts more abandoned needles – News – Kicker
    Courtesy of Kicker News (College of the North Atlantic)

    The article will be updated at a later date.

  • Student Software Developer Draws Most Attention at Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Career Showcase at College of the North Atlantic-PPD Campus

    Video puzzle game offers quite a unique challenge that requires logical thinking and reaction time.

    Adam Rose
    Twin Cities News

    Software developer Stephen Crocker demonstrates his current developed game at Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Career Show Case.

    Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador hosted a province-wide career show case throughout the province on Friday March 28.

    In attendance was a student software developer, Stephen Crocker, who attracted the most attention with his computerized video game called Cubi.

    Crocker is a software developer student at Keyin College in St. John’s, and he has created numerous witty video games under his branding, Stoozly.

    Crocker said, “Cubi is the first in person game-play trial and is still under development for PC and smartphone play in the web browser, however, it is still functional for everyone to play.”

    This video puzzle game offers quite a unique challenge that requires logical thinking and reaction time.

    The game has dynamic obstacles where each level introduces obstacle after obstacle.

    As the player advances, the puzzles become more complex thus pushing the player to develop new strategies at solving each task.

    Job Skill Demonstrator, Natalie Mitchell, with Skills Canada, played Cubi at the event and she says, “the game is a critical mind thinker and is very addictive.”   

    Crocker says, he has been developing his own games for many years as a hobbyist when he was a teenager.

    Crocker said, “Cubi is quite simple to understand and play, and it will keep players engaged for hours as they embark on a journey like no other video game.”

    Crocker said he has so far developed ten games in total, and they can be played online at stoozly.itch.io