Government of Newfoundland News

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
Public Safety

The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Public Safety and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services, joined representatives of the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities – NL in Gander today to launch a series of information and training sessions designed to improve emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. The sessions are part of A Shared Responsibility, a project which aims to better equip municipal planners and first responders, and to help people with disabilities, prepare for an emergency. The launch included an update on a draft planning guide – An Inclusive Emergency Planning Guide for Planners and Responders.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works is advising that the Placentia Lift Bridge will be closed from Monday, October 6, until Friday, October 10. Vehicular traffic will be detoured to Southeast Placentia Road.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Last night, at an unveiling of the exhibition, Inuit Ullumi: Inuit Today, Contemporary Art from TD Bank Group’s Inuit Collection, TD Bank Group presented a gift of $250,000 for The Rooms capital campaign, Where Once They Stood We Stand. General Rick Hillier (retired), co-chair of the campaign, was on hand to accept it and was joined by Chair of the Board of Directors of The Rooms, Tom Foran and CEO Dean Brinton.

Executive Council

Members of the media are advised that the departmental communications contacts for Provincial Government departments and secretariats have been updated as below.

Public Safety

The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Public Safety and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador, will participate in the launch of training and information sessions designed to better equip municipal planners, first responders and persons with disabilities prepare for an emergency. The event begins tomorrow (Friday, October 3) at 10:30 a.m. at the Gander Hotel, Gander.

Executive Council

The Honourable Steve Kent, Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement, will speak at the third annual Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Hall of Fame Induction Gala tomorrow (Friday, October 3). The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John’s, with Minister Kent speaking at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Executive Council

The Honourable Keith Russell, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, will speak delegates at the Fourth Annual Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic workshop (ReSDA). The minister will speak tomorrow (Friday, October 3) at 8:30 a.m. at Hotel North Two in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works is advising motorists that crews will begin to install construction signage to mark repairs to the Pitts Memorial Drive/Conception Bay South By-pass above the Trans Canada Highway on Monday, October 6. Repairs will begin once all the signage is in place.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Minister of Health and Community Services, will take part in a sod turning event for the expansion of the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Long-Term Care Home and a funding announcement for the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay tomorrow (Friday, October 3).

Public Safety

In an effort to enhance public safety, over $46,000 in Provincial Government funding will be used to purchase firefighting equipment in the District of Grand Bank. The funding announcements were made by the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development and MHA for the District of Grand Bank.

Natural Resources

The Provincial Government has been advised by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) and Alderon Iron Ore Corporation (Alderon) that construction of a third transmission line between Churchill Falls and Labrador West has been temporarily suspended until the completion of Alderon’s financing plan. To date, 20 kilometres have been cleared in preparation for the installation of the line.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works is advising motorists that westbound traffic on the overpass above Groves Road on the Outer Ring Road will be open to two lanes of traffic late this afternoon (Wednesday, October 1). Eastbound traffic will be open to two lanes of traffic tomorrow (Thursday, October 2) and all construction signs will be removed by Friday, October 3.

Executive Council

The Provincial Government will hold the ninth public engagement session for the Open Government Initiative tomorrow (Thursday, October 2). The session will take place in Happy Valley-Goose Bay at 7:00 p.m. at the Hotel North Two, 382 Hamilton River Road.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Provincial Government is recognizing National Seniors Day and the International Day of Older Persons by acknowledging older women and men throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who are highly engaged in their communities and are making a tremendous impact on their families, workplaces and society. To celebrate the contributions of seniors, five Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were presented with the Seniors of Distinction Awards in an event today.

Executive Council

Tomorrow (Thursday, October 2) at 5:45 p.m., Her Honour Patricia Fagan, wife of the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, will unveil a plaque on the grounds at Government House to honour the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Patriotic Association of the Women of Newfoundland.

Service NL

Effective tomorrow (Wednesday, October 1), the provincial minimum wage will increase by 25 cents to $10.25 per hour. An additional 25 cent increase will take place October 1, 2015.

Executive Council

A beacon of remembrance was lit at Quidi Vidi Lake yesterday as the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, officially dedicated the Offshore Helicopter Accident Memorial. The memorial pays tribute to the victims of Cougar 491 and the 1985 Universal Helicopter crashes.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, and Kevin Pollard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services, will present the sixth annual Seniors of Distinction Awards tomorrow (Wednesday, October 1). The ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Capital Hotel in St. John’s.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will take part in the official opening of the Faculty of Medicine’s new Medical Education Centre tomorrow (Wednesday, October 1).

Health and Community Services

A new Smoking Cessation Program is being made available to support clients eligible under the Access, Foundation, or 65Plus plans of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. Through an investment of $712,000, the program further strengthens the Provincial Government’s commitment to improving the health and wellness of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and will launch on October 1.