Cheers and Jeers for April 16

Cheers: to a community effort, and finally getting a job started. The Manolis L sank near Change Islands in 1985, and since then, the vessel has been slowly breaking down, leaking oil since cracks developed in its hull following a 2013 storm. This week, the federal government announced a $15-million contract with an international ship salvage firm to have the ship's remaining oil removed. There’s been a steady push from the Manolis L Citizens Response Committee to have a full cleanup done before the vessel breaks up and its remaining oil is released — it’s been a long road, but kudos to keeping the pressure on.

Cheers: to the wheels of justice moving slowly, but at least moving. Early last December, the Supreme Court of Canada heard an appeal of a Quebec Court of Appeal decision about the fairness of the Upper Churchill hydroelectric contract, and whether the unfair results of that contract meant changes should be made. At the time, the court reserved its decision. Now, though, there are signs that the court’s final decision could be close. The Supreme Court is making plans for a session for the media and lawyers to read the verdict in advance of its release. As the court docket says, “the Court has decided to hold a media lock-up and a separate counsel lock-up.” Read into those tea leaves what you will. Sounds like it could be involved.

Jeers: to strange court cases. A Corner Brook court case took a strange turn last week: William Companion was charged with having signed a motor vehicle inspection certificate for a trailer that was in such poor condition it shouldn’t have been on the road. His name was on the inspection certificate, and there was a signature that was purported to be his — but the offence in question involved this section of the inspection rules: “An authorized inspection mechanic shall complete and issue a vehicle inspection certificate, an inspection sticker where applicable and a renewal certificate where requested for every vehicle which he or she has inspected in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the official inspection station manual…” Problem was, the prosecution didn’t bring in any evidence to prove that Companion was actually “an authorized inspection mechanic.” And if he wasn’t, the judge ruled, then he couldn’t be found to have committed the offence. Game, set, match.

Jeers: to an addiction of healthy cynicism. So, last Wednesday, the provincial government had a pair of news events almost simultaneously; one, the news that the Muskrat Falls pricetag might climb by another three-quarters of a billion dollars, the other, “Look, a big shiny tunnel to Labrador is possible!” So, was it all just accidental timing, or is a case of, “yes, your power bill is going up even more, but look, we’ve got this video of kittens playing with yarn”?

(Editor's note: The first Cheers & Jeers item originally stated, "This week, the federal government announced a $15-million contract with an international ship salvage firm to have the ship raised." It has been corrected to state "to have the ship's remaining oil removed.")