Fisherman's Road

I posed the following question today (Feb. 27th) on the floor of the House of Commons. Mr. Speaker, Marine Atlantic ferry rates are increasing on April 1st. The fee hike spells trouble for passenger travel to Newfoundland and Labrador - damaging our crucial tourism industry. We just reached the $1-billion mark, Mr. Speaker. The trucking industry has said they can't absorb a hike in commercial rates - higher costs will be passed on to consumers, the price of all goods will most definitely increase. Mr. Speaker, Why are the Conservatives pricing the ferries out of service, and making life more expensive for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians?

I gave the following 10-minute speech today in the House of Commons in support of MP Olivia Chow's motion calling on the Conservative government to commit to a long-term, predictable infrastructure plan in the upcoming federal budget. 

Tenders have been called for the controversial security fence at St. John's harbour. According to the VOCM news article, the St. John's Port Authority says "the fence is a requirement from Transport Canada for security reasons." Only that's not the case. As I reported in early January , the proposed permanent fence around much of St. John's harbour apron is not the only option — the port authority could reinstate port security offices. At the time, I called on the St. John’s Port Authority to release the cost comparisons for both options. “The public has a right to see the detailed analysis of the costs of both fencing and port security as well as any other options considered in the back rooms at the St. John’s Port Authority ... I look forward to increased public dialogue following this full disclosure.” Only that full disclosure never happened.  Late in 2012, I wrote Transport Canada under the federal Access to Information for all &q

I gave the following speech in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Feb. 13th. Mr. Speaker, A housing forum was held in my riding of St. John’s South-Mount Pearl in September. Before the forum began, a woman in a wheelchair handed the 3 New Democrat MPs in attendance a sheet of paper. The paper contained 5 words – family, shelter, food, career and health. The woman asked each of us to take a moment to visualize what each word meant in our lives – family, shelter, food, career and health. Then she asked us to take a pen and eliminate one. “You have no choice,” the woman said. “It has to go.” Then we had to eliminate a second one. Then a third. I can tell you this – they were tough choices. Even hypothetically, the choices were impossible. I eliminated career first, then my own health, then food. I was left with family and shelter. I remember the exercise leaving me with a feeling of desperation.   The wo

The following letter to the editor is published in the Saturday, Feb. 9th Weekend Telegram . The above picture is of the Hibernia offshore oil platform.  HEADLINE:  There are problems with the offshore regulator  DECK:  And the federal government is in no rush to fix them By Ryan Cleary, NDP MP St. John's South-Mount Pearl The public’s confidence in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) was already shaken following a string of political appointments, as well as the board’s failure, to date, to follow through on the chief recommendation of the Wells inquiry report into the 2009 crash of Cougar helicopter Flight 491. But the latest news — that the board responsible for regulating the offshore oil industry isn’t prepared for a major offshore oil spill — is a shocking condemnation that may undermine what little public confidence remains. Released this week, the latest report from Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan points ou

Most of the 30 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal recipients were photographed following a medal ceremony Thursday afternoon at Government House in St. John's. The awards were presented by Lt.-Gov. John Crosbie (seated centre) for their contribution to community, province and country. From row from left: T.A. Loeffler, Greg Malone, Lt.-Gov. John Crosbie, Sister Mary Tee, Frankie O’Neill, and Fred Bannister. Back row from left:  Leslie Macleod, Tom Best,  Chris Hogan, Gemma Hickey (in front of Chris), Bruce Pearce, Yamuna Kutty, MP Ryan Cleary, Ruth Lawrence, Maryann Fleming, Tina Hand (accepting on behalf of her late husband, Dr. Jack Hand), Paul Ring,  Megan Drodge,  Bruce Templeton,  John Gibson, and Robert Chafe. From left: Greg Malone, Cleary, Ruth Lawrence, and Robert Chafe.

Cleary, Crosbie to honour Jubilee Medal recipients  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 6, 2013 St. John’s  – New Democrat MP Ryan Cleary (St. John’s South-Mount Pearl), together with Lt.-Gov. John Crosbie, will present Diamond Jubilee Medals to 30 deserving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have made significant contributions to their community, province and country. “I am honoured to present these community leaders with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal as a small token of our appreciation for their significant contributions,” says Cleary. The medal ceremony will take place at Government House, Thursday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. Biographies of medal recipients are attached.   -30- Biographies (in random order) Harvey Hodder  Harvey Hodder began his career serving the community of Mount Pearl in the early 60’s as a teacher at Mount Pearl Central High. Elected four times as mayor, he served a total of 23 years on Mount Pearl City Council, and was the driving force behind the