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VOCM News Mid-Day Update September 22nd · VOCM On Demand

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: Local news now, a VOCM News Update. I'm Sarah Strickland.
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: A 75-year-old woman is dead following a single-vehicle crash on
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: the Buren Peninsula Highway on Sunday. Our CMP recalled about
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: the crash just before noon, just south of Terrenceville. The
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Another occupant was
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: sent to hospital with injuries that are not believed to
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: be life-threatening. An investigation into the crash is ongoing. No
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: further details will be released at this time. The Department
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: of Education says Minister Paul Dinh has scheduled a meeting
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: with a group of daycare operators who say they'll be
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: opting out of the operating grant program on October 1st.
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: Richard Duggan reports.
• 0:47
  Speaker 2: The official opposition raised the alarm about the situation yesterday.
• 0:50
  Speaker 2: They say the Board of Directors for the advocacy group
• 0:53
  Speaker 2: NL Child Care Licensees recently informed parents that their members
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: plan to opt out of the program, which provides daycares
• 0:59
  Speaker 2: with the funding needed to maintain the $ 10- a- day system. In
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: a statement to VOCM News, government says there has been
• 1:05
  Speaker 2: a policy change to make sure child care centers are
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: reaching 100% enrollment, rather than just meeting the minimums. They
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: say there is also an existing policy that requires centers
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: to provide financial statements and documentations. Government states that while
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: some centers have questioned these policies, the majority do comply.
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: They say that change can be difficult for some operators
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: and are working with them to address their concerns. Department
• 1:28
  Speaker 2: staff met with the NL Child Care Licensees Group last Friday,
• 1:32
  Speaker 2: and Minister Paul Dinh will meet with them tomorrow.
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: A recent survey shows that a third of Atlantic Canadians
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: admit that it would be difficult for them to manage
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: their financial obligations if their paycheck was delayed by a week.
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: The National Payroll Institute released the results of its 2026
• 1:50
  Speaker 1: survey of working Canadians today. It shows that more than
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: half of Atlantic Canadians asked say the price of groceries
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: is their greatest source of financial stress. The survey also
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: found that more than half of all working Atlantic Canadians
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: now spend all or more of their net pay. President
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: of the National Payroll Institute, Peter Zanatakis, says everyday living
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: costs have been identified as the top stressor for respondents.
• 2:16
  Speaker 3: More than half of people have said that groceries and
• 2:20
  Speaker 3: household products are the main source of financial stress. So
• 2:24
  Speaker 3: it really is hitting the household budget significantly.
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: The province is seeking public input as it crafts a
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: new strategy to boost population growth. Government says a growing
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: population is essential to supporting economic development, addressing labor gaps,
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: and ensuring long-term prosperity, and the strategy will help guide
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: efforts to attract, retain, and support residents and families. The
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: new strategy will focus on ways to increase the workforce,
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: support families, help regions grow, and attract greater in-migration. The
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: public is being invited to participate through the EngageNL website,
• 3:03
  Speaker 1: and input will be accepted until October 11th. That's your news.
• 3:08
  Speaker 1: I'm Sarah Strickland.