Government of Newfoundland News

Transportation and Works

On behalf of the Provincial Government, the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, will be in Red Bay, tomorrow (Wednesday, July 23), to attend a plaque unveiling ceremony at the Basque Whaling Station. The event will take place at the Parks Canada Visitor Orientation Centre, Red Bay National Historic Site, at 11:00 a.m.

Transportation and Works
Justice

To support the construction of a new provincial courthouse in Stephenville, a request for proposals is being issued this week for a firm to develop master planning and functional programming which will outline space requirements, conceptual layout and suggested schedule.

Executive Council
Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government has reached a tentative funding agreement with the Newfoundland and Labrador Community Ambulance Operators Association which represents community-based non-profit ambulance operators across the province. It includes a total increase in funding of $1.6 million over the term of the agreement and base wage increases for ambulance attendants.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced the appointment of the Honourable Tony Cornect as Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs. This is in addition to his recent appointment as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Chair of the all-party committee on federal shrimp quota allocations, will be available to the media tomorrow (Tuesday, July 22) at 4:30 p.m. outside the House of Assembly. Minister Hutchings will be joined by Dwight Ball, Leader of the Official Opposition, and Lorraine Michael, Leader of the New Democratic Party.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

During recent meetings of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers in Calgary, the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, met with the Honourable Gail Shea, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, to stress the importance of meeting with the province’s all party committee on federal shrimp quota allocations. Minister Shea has now officially agreed to meet the all party committee in St. John’s tomorrow (Tuesday, July 22) to engage in discussions about the management of northern shrimp resources.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Volunteer firefighters play a significant role in public safety throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. To support this work the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education and MHA for Grand Bank, joined firefighters and officials from the community of Lawn on Sunday, July 20, and Grand Bank on Monday, July 21, to announce new pumper trucks for each community.

Tourism, Culture and Recreation

More than 90 athletes, coaches, mission staff, elders and chaperones from across the province are in Regina, Saskatchewan, participating in the 2014 North American Indigenous Games. The games, which officially opened this past weekend, will run until July 26.

Natural Resources

The Department of Natural Resources is implementing an outdoor fire ban for forest land in all regions on the Island of Newfoundland effective immediately.

Health and Community Services

The Brookfield/Bonnews Health Centre and Bonnews Lodge in New-Wes-Valley will receive approximately $640,000 for repairs, renovations and equipment, providing residents with continued access to quality health care services.

Environment and Conservation
Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

As part of Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook, a contract has been awarded to AMEC as part of a $90,000 investment for the continuation of a three-year Hurricane Flood Alert program in 45 communities throughout the province.

Environment and Conservation

The Department of Environment and Conservation advises the public that a section of the T’Railway Provincial Park from Appleton to Glenwood will be closed to all pedestrian, ATV, snowmobile and vehicular traffic effective July 25.

Executive Council

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has reached a tentative collective agreement with the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA), which represents 6,000 teachers across the province.

Health and Community Services

Residents served by the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital, Bay St. George Long Term Care Centre and Stephenville Rehabilitation Annex will benefit from over $1.2 million in medical equipment and upgrades for the facilities.

Health and Community Services

A $4.6 million contract has been awarded to complete upgrades and enhancements to the Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital in St. Anthony.

Natural Resources

The Department of Natural Resources is advising residents to be cautious given recent black bear sightings in and around the Town of Gaultois. Based on information received from a number of residents within the community, the sightings have been in the Valley area and near homes immediately behind the government wharf.

Justice

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement officers have apprehended a number of individuals alleged to have been involved in three separate salmon netting offences throughout the province this past week. Three of these investigations were the direct result of information received from residents concerned about protecting salmon stocks.

Health and Community Services

Residents of the Baie Verte region are benefiting from nearly $465,000 in funding for the Baie Verte Peninsula Health Care Centre to support facility upgrades and new equipment.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works is reminding motorists that the Outer Ring Road between Portugal Cove Road and the Team Gushue Highway will be closed on Sunday, July 20, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The closure of five kilometres of highway is required to enable cleanup efforts.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will speak at the opening ceremony of the Deer Lake Strawberry Festival today (Friday, July 18). The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Bowater Field, Deer Lake.