Brendan Dwyer

Atlantic Canada Journalism Writer

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Member since 2026

About Brendan

I grew up in Corner Brook — west coast of Newfoundland, paper mill town. Moved to St. John’s for MUN, studied political science and journalism, and never quite left. Nine years at The Telegram covering municipal politics and the offshore oil industry. I know the boom-and-bust cycle because I’ve lived through it: Hibernia, the oil price crash, the cod moratorium’s long shadow that still hangs over every outport. When the paper downsized, I went freelance. Now I file for CBC Newfoundland and The Independent.

I cover gambling regulation as a policy beat — the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, provincial licensing, the slow-moving conversation about online gambling in a region that’s always been cautious about change. I’m not a gambler. I’ve never bought a lottery ticket that wasn’t a stocking stuffer. But I understand the policy side, the revenue questions, and why it matters for a province that’s perpetually trying to balance its books.

I stayed when a lot of people left. Not because I couldn’t go — I had offers in Toronto and Ottawa — but because someone needs to cover what’s actually happening here. The politics, the economics, the decisions that affect 500,000 people who get about two minutes of national news coverage a week. I play darts at The Ship on George Street, I drive to Cape Spear on clear weekends, and I make Jiggs dinner on Sundays because some things are non-negotiable.

Areas of Expertise

Newfoundland Politics
Atlantic Canada Economics
Provincial Regulation
Atlantic Lottery Corporation
Energy Sector
Rural Issues
Investigative Journalism
Provincial Policy

What I Don’t Cover

Casino reviews or betting tips — not a gambler, never have been. I cover the policy and regulation side because that’s where the real stories are. I won’t write about Toronto or Ontario unless it directly affects Atlantic Canada. I don’t do hot takes or opinion columns — I report what’s happening and let readers decide what to think about it.

The Personal Stuff

When I’m Not Writing

Darts at The Ship on George Street
Driving to Cape Spear on clear weekends
Jiggs dinner on Sundays (non-negotiable)
Following the Growlers when they’re in town

Industry Pet Peeves

National media treating Newfoundland as a punchline
The phrase “have-not province”
Politicians in Ottawa making decisions for Atlantic Canada without visiting
Clickbait headlines about Muskrat Falls

“I stayed when a lot of people left. Not because I couldn’t go — because someone needs to cover what’s actually happening here, and it’s usually more interesting than what’s happening in Toronto.”