Government of Newfoundland News

Innovation, Business and Rural Development

The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, will address attendees at the official opening ceremony of the OCEANS’14 Conference tomorrow (Tuesday, September 16). The event will take place at 8:30 a.m. the St. John’s Convention Centre, New Gower Street.

Innovation, Business and Rural Development

Newfoundland and Labrador is proud to host OCEANS’14, one of the world’s most diverse and prestigious ocean technology conferences. Taking place this week in St. John’s, this international conference will promote the province’s expanding ocean technology sector and Arctic exploration potential. The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, will participate in the conference’s welcoming event tonight, as well as address delegates at the conference’s opening ceremony tomorrow (Tuesday, September 16).

Justice

Officers with the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division have charged four people with various offences under the Fisheries Act, Wild Life Act, and the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicle Regulations as a result of an investigation related to the alleged illegal fishing of Atlantic salmon in central Newfoundland.

Executive Council

The Provincial Government will hold the fourth of nine public sessions across the province for the Open Government Initiative tomorrow (Tuesday, September 16). The session will take place in Corner Brook at 7:00 p.m. at the Glynmill Inn, 1 Cobb Lane.

Innovation, Business and Rural Development

The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, will speak at OCEANS’14’s Newfoundland and Labrador Night on Monday, September 15, at 7:00 p.m. at the St. John’s Convention Centre.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Team Sedna, a group of divers and scientists, began their three-year mission exploring Arctic waters aboard the MV Cape Race this summer and delivering educational outreach about marine life. Provincial Government support helped outfit the team’s vessel with an “Arctic aquarium” to house collected marine specimens, which were shown to Inuit youth visiting the vessel, and will also be broadcast through Team Sedna’s global social network and media channels.

Education

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, will join Memorial University President Gary Kachanoski and Kirk Anderson, Dean of the Faculty of Education, on Monday, September 15, for the official opening of the university’s Teaching and Learning Commons. The event will be held at the G.A. Hickman (Education) Building, Room ED-5006, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Executive Council

Delegates from across Canada will be in St. John’s for the annual Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Outreach Program on September 15 and 16.

Executive Council

Premier Marshall today announced the appointment of Milly Brown to the position of Associate Secretary to Cabinet, Communications. The role provides support to Executive Council and coordinates government-wide communications.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Today, the Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, was joined by Kevin Parsons, MHA for Cape St. Francis, to announce $4.9 million in cost-shared capital works funding for the District of Cape St. Francis. This funding will support a number of municipal infrastructure projects in the region including work on a new bridge, new and enhanced recreational facilities, and important road upgrades. This funding is in addition to the $900,000 already announced for a new water treatment system in the Town of Pouch Cove.

Service NL
Education

Effective today, school buses can now use exterior amber flashing light systems when preparing to stop, in addition to the mandatory red flashing lights that are used when a bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students. The amber lights provide a warning to motorists, allowing them more time to slow down and react safely.

Education

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, and James Dinn, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA), today announced the members of a joint committee to review the implementation of the inclusive education model in schools.

Natural Resources

For the second year in a row, the Provincial Government is harvesting new varieties of wheat from test sites around the province to explore ways of providing commercial grain to dairy farmers.

Service NL
Advanced Education and Skills

A new partnership between Service NL and the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities – Newfoundland and Labrador (the Coalition) will help promote education and awareness of the proper use of blue zone parking spaces, including the correct installation of signage, for businesses and municipalities.

Executive Council

The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and lead Minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative, is joining community partners to proclaim Sexual Violence Awareness Week from September 15-19.

Environment and Conservation

Residents and visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador begin the annual hunting season with the big game season opening tomorrow (Saturday, September 13) in central and western regions of the island and Labrador. Sunday hunting is permitted between October 5, 2014, and April 30, 2015, in all areas, provided hunters have a valid licence and the season for the game being hunted is open. The eastern region big game season will open on October 4, 2014. Small game and trapping open in the coming weeks.

Education

Bluebird Investments Ltd. of Grand Falls-Windsor has been awarded a tender, valued at over $138,000, to undertake a gymnasium roofing project at Gander Collegiate.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

On September 11, 2014, Provincial Court Judge Kymil Howe handed down a fine of $5,000 following a guilty plea previously entered by former Western Health employee Donna Colbourne.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador, will be joined by Kevin Parsons, MHA for Cape St. Francis, to make a funding announcement regarding municipal capital works for the District of Cape St. Francis. The event will take place tomorrow (Friday, September 12) at the Torbay Fire Hall at 3:00 p.m.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Health and Community Services, will take part in a closing ceremony for the Hoyles Escasoni Complex tomorrow (Friday, September 12) as staff and residents prepare to move to the new long-term care facility in St. John’s next week.