Government of Newfoundland News

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.

Innovation, Business and Rural Development
Fisheries and Aquaculture

Aquaculture Industry Supported Through Strategic Investments

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The International Fire Services Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) is a peer-driven, self-governing organization that accredits fire service certification programs around the world. Recently, during the Fire and Emergency Training School, the province’s fire service training programs once again received international accreditation by IFSAC.

Fisheries and Aquaculture
Innovation, Business and Rural Development

The Provincial Government is providing approximately $80,000 to implement a software-based Sea Lice Decision Support System within the province, a project that supports the advancing of best practices in aquaculture. The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced the funding today, which will help the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association establish and test this powerful tool for monitoring sea lice prevalence and evaluating control programs.

Natural Resources

The Department of Natural Resources is advising residents to be cautious given recent black bear sightings in and around the Town of Botwood. Conservation officers with the department have placed traps in areas where black bears have been reported and recently relocated a bear from Botwood to a remote area.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced changes to his Cabinet today during a swearing-in ceremony at Government House. The following Cabinet appointments are effective immediately.

Advanced Education and Skills

The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, attended the July 11 Forum of Labour Market Ministers in Prince Edward Island to discuss issues affecting the labour market, both nationally and within individual provinces and territories. The Honourable Jason Kenney, federal Minister of Employment and Social Development, also attended this meeting, giving an opportunity to discuss recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program and the new Canada Job Grant.