2016 Newfoundland and Labrador budget protests

2016 Newfoundland and Labrador protests Statue of John Cabot St. John's 01.jpg Confederation Building in St. John's, the seat of the provincial legislature and the site of a series of protests.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-budget-protest-may-7-confederation-building-1.3571790 Thousands swarm Confederation Building for anti-budget protest CBC News Barry Garrett May 7, 2016 August 31, 2022 14 April 2016 — ~Summer 2016 Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada * Government overspending Austerity Deficit-reduction levy Public-sector job cuts High cost of living *Protests Demonstrations *May 19, 2016: Liberal MHA Paul Lane expelled from Liberal caucus due to his opposition to the levy. May 25, 2016: Increased funding from the federal government reduces the number of residents who will have to pay the levy.http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=62813&latest=1 Archived copy 2016-05-25 2016-05-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20160526133308/http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=62813&latest=1 dead June 2016: Budget passes in the House of Assembly. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador *NAPEhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nape-budget-fight-hits-road-1.3546282 NAPE budget fight hitting the road CBC News April 21, 2016 August 31, 2022 CUPEhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/cupe-gander-budget-demonstration-john-haggie-1.3564641 CUPE brings anti-budget message to health minister CBC News May 3, 2016 August 31, 2022 NLFL Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Bandhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/corner-brook-budget-protest-1.3559153 'We find it a bit of a struggle': Budget protest message from Corner Brook CBC News Colleen Connors Lindsay Bird April 29, 2016 August 31, 2022 Progressive Conservative Party NDP thumbnail|150px|Newfoundland and Labrador's location in Canada. Newfoundland is the island to the east of the Canadian mainland while Labrador is the region to the northwest of Newfoundland or northeast of Quebec. The 2016 Newfoundland and Labrador budget protests were a series of protests in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.http://rabble.ca/babble/activism/newfoundland-rising-against-austerity Newfoundland is rising against austerity rabble.ca May 18, 2016 August 31, 2022 The protests were in opposition to the provincial budget proposed by Finance Minister Cathy Bennett which will implement tax-hikes and cuts to many public service jobs. The protests were a major part of the financial crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador. Context thumbnail|150px|The courthouse in Harbour Grace will be one of the casualties of public-sector cuts. Newfoundland and Labrador is one of Canada's oil-producing provinces and oil revenues account for a significant amount of the province's GDP. During the premiership of Danny Williams, oil prices were high and government spending increased. The province's public sector doubled in size while provincial government spending was 20–36% higher than most other provinces. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-budget-bad-news-1.3535718 N.L. budget: $1.83B deficit, across-the-board tax hikes and layoffs CBC News Roberts Terry April 14, 2016 August 31, 2022 The recent drop in the price of oil caused a deficit for the province and the government did not expect to see another surplus until 2022. The provincial budget was unveiled by Finance Minister Cathy Bennett on April 14, 2016.http://www.fin.gov.nl.ca/fin/budget/index.html Budget Government of Newfoundland and Labrador In the budget, plans for more than 400 public-sector job cuts were announced, taxes on gasoline were doubled, the sales tax was increased and a "deficit-reduction levy" was to be introduced. This levy is an additional tax that will be imposed on residents with an annual income between $49,500 and $72,000. Lower Churchill Project One of the most notable mega-projects by the province under Williams was the Lower Churchill Project, a hydroelectric project in central Labrador on the Churchill River.http://www.nalcorenergy.com/lower-churchill-project.asp At a Glance Nalcor Energy August 31, 2022 November 29, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161129063257/http://www.nalcorenergy.com/Lower-Churchill-Project.asp dead During Williams's premiership the project received a great deal of support from Newfoundlanders; however, it was much more controversial among Labradorians.http://www.thelabradorian.ca/news/local/2016/5/2/_pressing-human-rights-concern.html 'Pressing human rights concern' 2016-05-22 2016-05-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20160503123336/http://www.thelabradorian.ca/news/local/2016/5/2/_pressing-human-rights-concern.html dead The position on the project taken by the Nunatsiavut government was even supported by Amnesty International. The project is being developed by Nalcor Energy and Emera. Nalcor is a provincial crown corporation based in St. John's. The project is behind schedulehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/muskrat-falls-costs-have-gone-up-project-further-behind-schedule-1.3532028 Muskrat Falls costs up again, project further behind schedule CBC News April 12, 2016 August 31, 2022 and despite the province's financial situation and the high costs of the project, it is expected to continue development. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/emera-nalcor-muskrat-falls-1.3548114 Premier confident in Muskrat Falls hydro project despite Nalcor CEO's concerns Luck Shaina CBC News April 22, 2016 Reaction to the budget The budget has been very controversial since its unveiling.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/budget-protest-tee-1.3557254 Protests planned following 'province-wide discontent' with budget CBC News Wall Lukas April 28, 2016 August 31, 2022http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/david-cochrane-deficit-levy-liberals-1.3558119 Liberals feeling heat over unpopular deficit reduction levy CBC News Cochrane David April 29, 2016 August 31, 2022 Many notable people from the province have spoken out against the budget. Former Liberal Premier Roger Grimes criticized the introduction of the levy.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/grimes-criticizes-liberals-budget-1.3549461 Roger Grimes criticizes Liberal budget, wants 'Muskrat Falls levy' eliminated CBC News April 22, 2016 August 31, 2022 Several public and independent groups have formed in the province. These groups are motivated by the cyclical abuse, lack of democracy and mismanagement of the province ever since it joined the Confederation.http://gac-nl.weebly.com/organized-political-groups.html Organized Political Groups - Dream Bigger 2016-08-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20171214014830/https://gac-nl.weebly.com/organized-political-groups.html 2017-12-14 dead The groups or entities included: Coordinated Approach Mutual Aid Free NL Golden Arrow Community People's Union People's Assembly Newfrownland.ca Protests Many protests by various organizations took place after April 2016. Former cabinet ministers under the Progressive Conservative government from 2003 to 2015 appeared at some protests (including former Premier Paul Davis) where they were often not well received.http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/confederation-building-rally-1.3546491 Paul Davis shouted down at anti-Liberal budget rally CBC News Garrett Barry Mark Quinn April 21, 2016 August 31, 2022http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/russell-protest-budget-demonstration-labrador-1.3548238 Keith Russell gets an earful at Labrador budget rally CBC News Barry Garrett Barker Jacob April 22, 2016 August 31, 2022 Notable protest locations Bell Island Bonavistahttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/rally-at-bonavista-cna-campus-to-protest-budget-cuts-1.3560766 Rally at Bonavista CNA campus to protest budget cuts CBC News Bartlett Geoff April 30, 2016 August 31, 2022 Burin Clarenvillehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/clarenville-parents-protest-education-cuts-1.3582680 Clarenville parents protest cuts to schools and education CBC News Wall Lukas May 14, 2016 August 31, 2022 Corner Brook Gambohttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gambo-budget-protest-april-2016-1.3550185 Gambo latest town to hold budget protest CBC News Bartlett Geoff April 23, 2016 August 31, 2022 Grand Falls-Windsor Happy Valley-Goose Bay Harbour Grace King's Covehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-schools-protest-budget-cuts-multi-grade-kings-cove-roncalli-beachy-cove-1.3576620 Protests at King's Cove and Avalon schools before morning bell CBC News Power Leigh Anne Bartlett Geoff May 11, 2016 August 31, 2022 Portugal Cove-St. Philip's Rameahttp://www.gulfnews.ca/news/2016/5/20/ramea-holds-protest-of-library-cut.html Ramea holds protest of library cut 2016-05-22 2016-05-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20160521113301/http://www.gulfnews.ca/news/2016/5/20/ramea-holds-protest-of-library-cut.html dead St. John'shttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/protesters-here-and-now-ball-bennett-1.3563292 Angry protesters swarm Dwight Ball and Cathy Bennett before CBC special broadcast CBC News May 2, 2016 August 31, 2022 Swift Currenthttp://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-05-18/article-4532767/Swift-Current-area-residents-to-protest-2016-budget/1 Swift Current area residents to protest 2016 budget - Regional - The Telegram 2016-05-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20160623230358/http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-05-18/article-4532767/Swift-Current-area-residents-to-protest-2016-budget/1 2016-06-23 dead Wabush Woody Pointhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/woody-point-protests-teacher-cuts-1.3587143 'We'll keep fighting': Woody Point residents protest Bonne Bay Academy cuts CBC News May 18, 2016 August 31, 2022 References Category:2016 in Newfoundland and Labrador Category:2016 in Canadian politics Category:Protests in Canada Category:2016 protests Category:Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador