Government of Newfoundland News

Through the Provincial Government’s historic investment of almost $1.4 billion in provincial roads and highways over the next five years, a number of additional contracts have been awarded totaling approximately $21 million for road work throughout the province.

Four contracts were recently awarded, including:

• A $9.4 million contract awarded to JCL Investments Inc. to replace culverts and pave sections of Bide Arm Road (Route 433-10); Port aux Choix Road (Route 430-28); Cow Head Main Street (Route 430-21-1); Barbe Ferry Road (Route 430-50); Loop Road (Route 430-52); Reefs Harbour Road (Route 430-36); and grade Croque Road (Route 438);
• A $5.4 million contract to Marine Contractors Ltd. for culvert replacements between Corner Brook and Pynn’s Brook Weigh Scales, and rehabilitation of the ramp to Humber Village (Exit 9);
• A $4.3 million contract awarded to Nortech Construction Co. Ltd. for widening, paving, installation of sidewalk and replacement of culverts along a section of (Route 210) at McGettigan Boulevard in Marystown; and
• A $1.7 million contract awarded to Municipal Construction Limited to remove and replace various sections of asphalt along the Trans-Canada Highway in the areas of Conception Bay South, Harbour Main and Placentia-St. Mary’s.

These contracts are part of a $225 million investment in highway construction in 2023-24 and close to $1.4 billion over the next five construction seasons, as announced in Budget 2023.

Information on tenders issued and awarded by the department and other public bodies is available by visiting www.merx.com/govnl.

Information on active highway construction projects and repairs is also available by visiting https://511nl.ca/ and on the NL 511 mobile app.

Quotes
“We continue to award contracts for necessary improvements aimed at strengthening our provincial roads and highways to withstand the impacts of climate change. Our government’s historical investment in roads infrastructure signals our commitment to ensuring safe and reliable roads leading to our towns and communities.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“The level of investment in road work across the province and in the district of St. Barbe – L’Anse aux Meadows this year is record breaking. With $9.4 million being invested over this construction season, we can say with confidence that the improvements in our road network will help with economic and social development across the district for years to come.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and MHA for St. Barbe – L’Anse aux Meadows

“Any day that we can announce key infrastructure improvements, along one of the busiest stretches of the Trans-Canada Highway, is a great day for the Corner Brook region and the entire province. These investments will benefit the region for many years to come.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and MHA for Corner Brook

“Road infrastructure improvements are integral to movement throughout the District of St. George’s-Humber, and impact the residents who rely on them for access to services or connectivity throughout the region. I am very pleased with the work that is slated for this construction season.”
Scott Reid
MHA for St. George’s-Humber

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Learn more
Focus Continues on Highway Improvements with Awarding of Latest Contracts

Road Infrastructure Investments Aimed at Increasing Safety and Access on Provincial Highways

Minister Loveless Announces Unprecedented Investment in Multi-Year Roads Program

Provincial Government Announces Largest Ever Five-Year Investment in Highway and Road Infrastructure

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The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, will launch an extensive suite of supports to help Ukrainians secure long-term housing and employment in Newfoundland and Labrador tomorrow (Wednesday, May 24).

The launch will take place at the Regatta Plaza Employment Centre, 80 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s at 11 a.m.

Minister Byrne will be joined by Megan Morris, Executive Director of the Association for New Canadians. Also present will be members of the Ukrainian community and businesses who have hired Ukrainians.

Since the illegal invasion of the Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022:

• More than 2,700 Ukrainians have arrived here; almost three-quarters arriving on their own and more coming weekly;
• More than 1,600 Ukrainians are in permanent housing, 296 in the last month;
• More than 280 employers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have hired almost 600 Ukrainians;
• More than 500 Ukrainian students enrolled in K-12 schools; and
• Nearly 400 Ukrainians are studying English as a Second language.

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The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced $140,000 in funding to support the School Milk Foundation. The funding will help ensure the foundation can mitigate a price increase for K-12 students accessing milk at schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2023-24 school year.

The School Milk Foundation is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization is focused on increasing access to milk for school-aged children and youth in Newfoundland and Labrador. The program, currently operating in 260 schools in the province, provides both white and reduced sugar chocolate milk at a subsidized rate for students.

In addition to supporting access to milk, the program provides curriculum-based nutrition education programs in schools. A Registered Dietitian provides virtual live presentations for Kindergarten to Grade 6 classes in schools in all regions of the province. The program also provides a number of promotional programs to schools each year. More information can be found here.

The Provincial Government, through the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, also provides $250,000 annually to support the printing of school milk packaging.

Quotes
“The School Milk Foundation plays a key role in providing access to milk for students. Milk contains a number of nutrients that school-aged children and youth are under consuming, including calcium and vitamin D. This funding will ensure that the organization will meet its current financial commitments and maintains the quality of the program in 260 schools throughout the province.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“This funding will have a tremendous impact for students and families across our province. Keeping the price of school milk where it has been since 2019 is crucial to offering affordable nutrition at schools, at a time of high inflation when it is even more important.”
Wayne Simmons, Chair
School Milk Foundation of NL

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Learn more
School Milk Foundation

Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @HCS_GovNL

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The investigation by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) into the October 2021 cyber attack on the provincial health system is now complete. The Report was sent to the parties today and it will be posted on our web site tomorrow, May 24, 2023, for members of the public to read.

The Report is being issued by Sean Murray, Director of Research and Quality Assurance, acting in the role of Commissioner’s Delegate, in accordance with the authority delegated to him by Commissioner Michael Harvey under section 103 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 and section 80 of the Personal Health Information Act.

Mr. Murray will be holding a technical briefing and media availability on Wednesday, May 24 2023, at the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner starting at 9:45 a.m. Registered media should come to the main entrance of the NL Housing Building at 9:30 a.m. to be escorted to the OIPC offices.

This will be an in-person event held in the OIPC Boardroom at 2 Canada Drive (NL Housing Building). As space will be limited, media planning to attend are asked to register in advance by contacting commissioner@oipc.nl.ca. Media unable to attend in person may join via audio only by registering in advance. For sound quality purposes, registered media are asked to use a landline if at all possible.

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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research and Quality Assurance
commissioner@oipc.nl.ca
709-729-6309

Background:
Commissioner Harvey recused himself from the cyber attack investigation on March 21, 2023, in response to a court application by government seeking to remove him from the investigation due to allegations of reasonable apprehension of bias based on Commissioner Harvey’s executive position with the Department of Health and Community Services prior to his appointment as Commissioner. While he rejected the allegations as unfounded, he nevertheless delegated responsibility for the investigation and issuance of the Report to Mr. Murray because of the delay that would have resulted from having the matter heard in court.

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Today, the Provincial Government is announcing support of approximately $386,000 to Food First NL. This one-time funding will support Food System Transformation initiatives and advance collaborative efforts through four interrelated community food projects, and will open up opportunities for future investments from national partners.

These community food projects include:

• Great Things in Store: Working with a cohort of eight food retailers across the province to develop and pilot partnerships and programs that improve food access for lower-income Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
• Rethinking Food Charity: Supporting the implementation of recommendations developed through a year-long consultation process that engaged people with a lived experience of food insecurity and food program providers all over the province.
• Labrador Anchor Collaborative: Expanding and solidifying the work of the Labrador Anchor Collaborative, an initiative (part of a national cohort) focused on strengthening access to traditional foods through the health care system, led by a collaborative team that includes Indigenous Governments and Organizations, health care leaders and community partners.
• School Food Planning: In line with the federal commitment to a National School Food Policy, Food First NL will support collaboration around planning for future approaches to school food in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Provincial Government has committed to improving access to food through annual operating grants since 2007. The Department of Health and Community Services provides $105,000 to Food First NL annually to advance joint priorities related to food security and improving access to healthy foods.

This Provincial Government investment aligns with recommendations of Health Accord NL, which identifies improved food security as one of several factors that can reduce poverty and lead to better health and well-being for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Food First NL is a food security leader in the community and has collaborated with government, communities, and organizations to advance food security in the province for over 20 years.

Quotes
“Access to affordable and nutritious food is vital to creating healthy communities. By supporting organizations like Food First NL, we’re investing in the health and well-being of all Newfoundland and Labradorians by ensuring food accessibility programming is taking place in our province.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Food security is essential to well-being and a key social determinant of health. Working with community partners such as Food First NL helps our government support well-being for individuals and families. This partnership approach is important to creating stronger, more resilient communities and contributes to improved social well-being for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Children Seniors and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Community Sector

“To move the needle on food security in Newfoundland and Labrador, work needs to be happening all across our food system – with retailers, in schools, in the food charity system, and in health care. This investment will help leverage commitments from national partners and push forward urgently-needed structural change.”
Josh Smee
CEO, Food First NL

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The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Speaker, I wish to acknowledge World Family Doctor Day, celebrated globally this past Friday, and to recognize the exceptional contributions of family doctors throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

This year’s theme is “Family Doctors, the heart of health care.” Family physicians, whether in their own clinics or as members of family care teams, are vital to the provision of quality primary care in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Speaker, our government continues to work to better support family doctors so that they can provide the best possible care to their patients.

We have worked with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association on a Shared Agenda for Family Medicine to establish permanent and sustainable improvements to family medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have recently co-designed blended capitation remuneration, which fairly compensates family doctors for treating patients with complex needs.

We have created collaborative work spaces through family care teams to share the workloads in primary care.

Other recruitment and retention initiatives, such as the Family Physician Income Guarantee and the Family Practice Start-Up Program, are helping attract and retain new, qualified family physicians.

The recently announced Manager of Physician Relations position in the Department of Health and Community Services will continue to strengthen our relationship with physicians.

As we work to transform health care in this province, we are tremendously grateful for family doctors and their dedication to the well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Speaker, I ask all Honourable Members to join me in thanking family doctors for their unwavering dedication, care and compassion.

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The Outer Ring Road from Kenmount Road to the Logy Bay Road interchange will be closed on Sunday, May 28, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a cleanup of litter and large discarded items.

The closure is necessary to ensure a safe environment for all crews working on and near the highway.

Traffic control will be in place on the highway to guide motorists and ease the flow of traffic. Digital display signs are also being placed along the Outer Ring Road to give advanced notice of the closure.

During the cleanup, barricades will be erected to prohibit access at all entry points:

• Logy Bay Road;
• Torbay Road;
• Aberdeen Avenue;
• Portugal Cove Road;
• Allandale Road;
• Team Gushue Highway;
• Thorburn Road; and
• Topsail Road.

Cleanups are required to safely remove debris that litters our roadways when vehicle cargo is not secured.  Littering on the province’s highways is prohibited under section 163. (1) of the Highway Traffic Act. Penalties range from $100 to $500.

Failing to ensure cargo is immobilized or secured so that it cannot leak, spill or blow off; fall from, fall through, or otherwise become dislodged from a vehicle, can result in a minimum fine of $120, to a maximum fine of $600.

Updates on the road closure and reopening will be available at nl511.ca and on the 511 smartphone app.

Quotes
“Cleanup of our province’s roadways is important from both safety and environmental standpoints. The debris along our roadways poses a hazard to the motoring public. We must make every effort to help ensure public safety. Properly secured loads are necessary to help achieve this goal, and I would like to remind the public that it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure loads are properly secured, so that debris doesn’t leave the vehicle or become dislodged.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“Thank you to our province’s road crews for their efforts to keep this major transportation network free of litter. We all have a role to play in ensuring our roads are litter free. Let’s all do our part to properly dispose of garbage and old household items to keep our roads clean and safe for the motoring public.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“Unsecured loads on our roadways are serious safety hazards for motorists. Unsecured cargo can strike other vehicles, obstruct visibility and present a dangerous hazard on our roadways. In addition to transporting unsecured loads on our highways, illegal dumping is another serious problem in our province that poses significant environmental, financial and health risks to our communities. We must all work to keep our province clean and safe.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Minister of Digital Government and Service NL

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The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, will bring greetings at the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador’s conference “Embracing Neurodiversity” tomorrow (Wednesday, May 24).

The conference takes place at the Emera Innovation Exchange, 100 Signal Hill Road, St. John’s, beginning 9:00 a.m.

The Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for autistic persons, providing education, programs and navigational support as well as promoting acceptance of neurodiversity through educational initiatives and campaigns.

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Digital Government and Service NL is expanding its digital service offerings to provide Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with the option to complete more services online, at a time and place that is convenient for them.

Effective today (Tuesday, May 23), anyone needing to replace their vehicle registration document can request a replacement by visiting MyGovNL. A MyGovNL account can be easily created by providing an email address and creating a password.

Requests for a duplicate vehicle registration document can still be submitted by completing an application, either in person, by phone or in writing, should anyone prefer to use this service. Once the request has been submitted and processed, the vehicle registration will be mailed.

For additional information, including duplicate registrations for vehicles owned by a company please visit the department website.

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Auditor General of Newfoundland and Labrador, Denise Hanrahan, will deliver a performance audit report on the Departments of Digital Government and Service NL and Health and Community Services oversight and management of the Food Premises Inspection and Licensing Program to the House of Assembly tomorrow (Wednesday, May 24, 2023).

A technical briefing for media will take place on Wednesday (May 24, 2023), beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the Office of the Auditor General’s boardroom, 7 Pippy Place, St. John’s. Media representatives planning to participate are asked to RSVP to Chrysta Collins (chrystacollins@oag.nl.ca).

The Auditor General will be available to the media beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Media planning to participate are asked to be at the Office of the Auditor General no later than 1:45 p.m.

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Media contact
Chrysta Collins
Manager of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
709-730-1568
chrystacollins@oag.nl.ca

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The Provincial Government, the City of Mount Pearl and the Town of Paradise, are launching a traffic camera pilot project in partnership to detect and capture images of speeding motorists. The pilot will begin on June 1, 2023, at various locations within the two municipalities.

Traffic cameras are used as a means to help increase road safety by supplementing current enforcement efforts to enhance compliance with the rules of the road.

During the pilot, signs indicating that speed cameras are in use will be displayed at various locations in Mount Pearl and Paradise. The cameras will read licence plates, and take images of the rear of vehicles travelling over the posted speed limit. The information collected will include:

• Date, time and location of the offence;
• Direction and speed the vehicle was travelling; and
• The posted speed limit.

Each municipality will review the images captured by the cameras in their respective communities, and where a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit, a detection notice will be sent in the mail to the registered vehicle owner. There will be no tickets issued during the pilot. Information gathered during the pilot will help inform a wider implementation of image capture enforcement systems to curtail speeding.

More information regarding the traffic camera pilot project, including a list of frequently asked questions, can be found on the department’s website.

Quotes
“Speeding on our roadways is a significant public safety concern. I am very pleased to introduce this pilot project, which will inform the design and implementation of a wider program that can be available to municipalities interested in improving road safety.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Minister of Digital Government and Service NL

“The Town of Paradise is pleased to participate in the traffic camera pilot project. Road safety is one of our top priorities, and we are continually working to find progressive ways to deal with it. Over the past number of years, we have been exploring ways to implement traffic calming measures to meet the needs of our Town. Piloting traffic cameras is the latest step in that work and we look forward to building on the data and information gathered in this program.”
His Worship Dan Bobbett
Mayor of the Town of Paradise

“One of the most important concerns we hear from residents is vehicle speeding. The addition of traffic cameras is another tool in our toolkit to enhance public safety. They will act as a deterrent, reminding us to slow down, respect speed limits, and protect one another. By embracing this technology, we foster a culture where residents and visitors can navigate our city with peace of mind.”
His Worship Dave Aker
Mayor of the City of Mount Pearl

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Learn more
Highway Traffic Act

Increased Fines for Traffic Offences Come Into Effect

Proposed Changes to the Highway Traffic Act Impose Stronger Penalties for Speeding Offenses

Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @DGS_GovNL 

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The application deadline for the land development initiative under the Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program is extended to June 5, 2023. This enables farmers to submit new applications to request financial assistance for agricultural land development and/or for fertilizer purchased since April 1, 2023.

This extension to the program for the 2023 growing season is in response to requests from the agriculture industry to help address historically high fertilizer prices. Funding approvals for fertilizer and/or agricultural land development will be prorated based on program demand, and fertilizer purchases will be reimbursed up to 50 per cent of eligible costs.

Applications received after June 5, 2023 will be assessed once program savings are identified later in the fiscal year.

For more information, visit Agriculture Programs and Funding, call 709-637-2077 or email PAAP@gov.nl.ca.

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The Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, will announce a traffic camera pilot program on Tuesday, May 23.

The event will take place on the mezzanine level of the Paradise Double Ice Complex, 1 Sarah Davis Way, beginning 9:00 a.m.

Minister Stoodley will be joined by His Worship Dan Bobbett, Mayor of the Town of Paradise, and His Worship Dave Aker, Mayor of the City of Mount Pearl.

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Today at the Confederation Building in St. John’s, the Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, met with leadership of the Fish Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) and the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP). The meeting culminated in an agreement between the FFAW and the ASP to commence the 2023 crab fishery.

Given the difficult global market for snow crab this season and the significance of this fishery to Newfoundland and Labrador, it was important for all parties to come together to reach a solution in order to start the fishery.

We encourage all parties to maintain public safety and respect the process. Police agencies will continue to monitor the situation closely to protect the safety of all those involved. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador remains committed to working with communities and our police agencies to ensure all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians feel safe and secure.

Representatives of the FFAW and ASP will be available to the media on Tuesday (May 23, 2023) to discuss the agreement.

The seafood industry is an integral component of our provincial economy, employing over 17,500 people from over 400 communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Snow crab is the most valuable seafood product exported from the province annually, with total landings of 50,470 tonnes in 2022. Newfoundland and Labrador’s fish and seafood products are exported to more than 40 countries worldwide.

Quotes
“Our government recognizes this has been a challenging time for the hard-working people who power Newfoundland and Labrador’s significant crab fishery. It was important to reach an agreement to ensure we do not lose the 2023 season, and I thank all parties for working together to achieve this goal.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“The crab fishery plays a major role in communities across Newfoundland and Labrador, and I have been committed to working with the FFAW and ASP to reach an agreement throughout the last number of weeks. As the 2023 crab fishery commences, it is important that everyone be safe.”
Honourable Derrick Bragg
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

“The last several weeks have been incredibly challenging for all our members around the province, but it was not all for nothing. We trust that what’s happened here today provides not only a start for the 2023 crab fishery, but lays the groundwork for future seasons to ensure harvesters have a system they can put their faith in.”
Greg Pretty
President, FFAW-Unifor

“We’re pleased and relieved that we have reached an agreement with the FFAW for the 2023 crab season. It’s been a troubling few weeks faced with much uncertainty, but we are confident that we can still have a successful fishery, with public safety top of mind. We are eager to start processing crab, and to provide meaningful employment to the thousands of plant workers that rely on the industry, and we are looking forward to exporting premium quality snow crab that will be enjoyed worldwide.”
Jeff Loder
Executive Director, Association of Seafood Producers

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BACKGROUNDER

The terms of the agreement to commence the 2023 crab fishery are as follows:

$2.20 to start, and as the minimum price for the season
$2.25 at $4.85
$2.30 at $4.95
$2.60 at $5.50
$2.75 at $6.00

Reconsideration after $6.01

All reference prices at low NL Urner Barry.

The Parties further agree to meet weekly to establish and enforce workable trip limits.

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The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the following relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT SUBMITTED:

White Hill Pond Quarry                                                                (Reg. 1828)
Proponent:  Cabot Ready Mix Limited

The proponent has submitted an environmental preview report (EPR) for the above undertaking as required by the minister. The EPR document is available on the Department of Environment and Climate Change website at www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-1828/.

Public comments regarding the EPR are welcome and may be emailed to the Chair of the Environmental Assessment Committee, Brenda Rowe, at browe@gov.nl.ca, or to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca or they may be mailed to the address below.

Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Climate Change
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6

Public comments must be received by June 23, 2023. The minister’s decision on the EPR is due by July 3, 2023.

Learn more
Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Climate Change
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6

Environmental assessment information is available at:

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_May-2023.pdf

Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @ECC_GovNL

Public comments may be forwarded to: EAprojectcomments@gov.nl.ca

If you submit comments on a project that is under environmental assessment, please advise the department if you DO NOT wish to share your comments with the project proponent.

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This month, 42 medical residents accepted Medical Resident Bursaries offered by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in return for working in the province for up to 36 months as part of a return-in-service agreement.

This bursary is in addition to the 22 full-time Memorial University students enrolled in their fourth academic year of the Undergraduate Medical Education Program who have accepted the department’s Undergraduate Medical Student Bursary and have agreed to work in the province for at least one year, which was announced earlier this week.

The group of 42 medical residents includes five family medicine residents who will practice in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Other residents have agreed to work in St. John’s, Carbonear, Clarenville, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Twillingate, Springdale and Corner Brook.

Funding amounts increase for more rural positions, and range from $40,000 for family medicine residents who practice in St. John’s up to $90,000 for family medicine residents and specialist residents who practice in rural and difficult-to-fill areas. The Medical Resident Bursaries are flexible, and residents can receive pro-rated amounts for working periods less than 36 months.

Medical Resident Bursaries are available to medical residents who are:

• Medical school undergraduates from Memorial University completing the final two years of their post-graduate medical education in Newfoundland and Labrador or in another Canadian program;
• Medical school undergraduates from another Canadian jurisdiction completing the final two years of their post-graduate medical education in Newfoundland and Labrador; or
• A Canadian medical school graduate who has completed undergraduate medical school or post-graduate residency training at Memorial University, and is completing subspecialty training accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

The bursaries are included as part of other incentives that offer thousands of dollars in funding to recruit and retain health care students and experienced professionals in exchange for return for service.

To learn more about the wide range of bursaries and incentives available for health care workers looking to explore a career in Newfoundland and Labrador, please visit workinhealthnl.ca or email the Provincial Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Office at recruit@WorkinHealthNL.ca.

Quote
“Our bursaries are working. So far, these two bursaries are resulting in 64 students agreeing to practice in our province. Recruiting health care professionals is a competitive market and our programs are enticing health care professionals to work here, which in turn helps balance workloads and helps them decide to stay here. We are not done yet, and we look forward to more physicians and nurses agreeing to work in Newfoundland and Labrador in the coming months.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

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The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, today announced that Newfoundland and Labrador will host the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards. St. John’s will play host city to the award show again for the first time since 2008.

Leading up to the awards ceremony, there will be a week-long celebration of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canadian folk music. Special events such as showcases and all ages events will be planned to celebrate Newfoundland and Labrador’s rich history in folk music.

The award ceremony and related festivities will coincide with the recently announced Year of the Arts, a celebration of Newfoundland and Labrador’s rich arts and cultural sector. This year-long celebration will feature public initiatives including events, festivals, music and performances.

Minister Crocker was joined at the announcement by Wade Pinhorn, Local Chair, Canadian Folk Music Awards Event Committee; Cathy Duke, Chief Executive Officer of Destination St. John’s; Anna Brophy, Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society; and Rhonda Tulk-Lane, Chief Executive Officer of MusicNL, as well as other key stakeholders.

Newfoundland and Labrador folk musicians who wish to submit their albums for consideration for a 2024 Canadian Folk Music Award can visit www.folkawards.ca for more information.

Celebrate NL, Destination St. John’s and Music NL submitted a bid to bring the folk music showcase to the province. The mission of the Canadian Folk Music Awards is to celebrate and promote Canadian folk music in all its forms.

Quotes
“The Canadian Folk Music Awards will find a natural and enthusiastic audience here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Folk music is entwined in our storytelling culture, and we have had an incredible number of folk artists find success on the national and international stages. I look forward to the 2024 awards show and can guarantee that this will be one of the best events the Canadian folk music community has ever seen.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

“The Canadian Folk Music Awards are excited to be returning to St. John’s to join with the folk music community in Newfoundland and Labrador to celebrate the best in Canadian folk music.  Artists from across the country will perform in St. John’s, and join local musicians and music lovers, many surely playing Folk Night at The Ship, and in any of the traditional sessions happening around town.  Newfoundland and Labrador are steeped in folk traditions, and I’m excited to bring the country to enjoy what the province has to offer!”
Graham Lindsey
Canadian Folk Music Awards

“Destination St. John’s is delighted to see the Canadian Folk Music Awards come to St. John’s in 2024. Not only will we welcome artists and visitors from across the country, but we will have the opportunity to celebrate the success of our own talented singers, songwriters and musicians at home.”
Cathy Duke
Destination St. John’s

“We are thrilled to be a part of the esteemed Canadian Folk Music Awards. As passionate advocates for the rich heritage and diversity of folk music in Newfoundland and Labrador, MusicNL is excited to join forces with the Canadian folk music community to celebrate and recognize the incredible talents within this genre. Our team is dedicated to supporting a memorable event that pays tribute to the artists, songwriters, and industry professionals who have made significant contributions to the Canadian folk music landscape. We look forward to supporting a remarkable event showcasing the power and beauty of folk music that leaves a lasting impact on both the performers and the audience.”
Rhonda Tulk-Lane
MusicNL

“The Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society is thrilled that the Canadian Folk Music Awards has selected our capital city as its destination in 2024. Our province has such rich and diverse folk arts traditions and we’re excited to showcase them to the whole country. With 2024 being the Year of the Arts, as well as the 50th anniversary of the NLFAS event ‘Folk Night at The Ship’, we are not only delighted to share our talent with our fellow Canadian folk artists, but we are also excited to be inspired by them!”
Anna Brophy
Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society

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The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, and Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, will visit with BGC St. John’s tomorrow (Thursday, May 18).

The visit will take place at BGC St. John’s, 25 Buckmaster’s Circle, at 2:00 p.m.

Minister Abbott will meet with the Executive Director and staff to discuss the Summer Camp Inclusion Grant, which provides financial support for a support person to accommodate children with disabilities to attend summer camp.

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The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, and Minister Responsible for the Community Sector, will bring remarks at the Town of Pouch Cove’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Night tomorrow (Thursday, May 18).

The event takes place at the Lion’s Club, 200 Satellite Road, Pouch Cove beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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Ministers representing Canada’s northern jurisdictions gathered this week in Churchill, Man. for the 2023 Northern Development Ministers’ Forum (NDMF).

Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development Minister Greg Nesbitt hosted this year’s forum, which focused on learning from successful examples of economic reconciliation through action across the country.

“Manitoba was honoured to welcome our federal, provincial, and territorial counterparts to Churchill for this year’s Northern Development Ministers’ Forum, which offered meaningful opportunities to collaborate and support sustainable development in the North,” said Nesbitt. “The Manitoba government is committed to successful northern development through strategic investments and partnerships with Indigenous Peoples. We will continue to pursue opportunities that bring us closer to achieving those goals and supporting federal, provincial and territorial commitments towards economic reconciliation.”

Strong relationships and partnerships are essential for northern communities to create and develop economic opportunities. This forum, the first since 2019, helped reinforce co-operation among provincial, territorial, and federal authorities to advance the diverse and common interests of northern communities and raise awareness on strategic priorities and actions to advance socio- economic development of the North.

Over the past two days, the ministers engaged in discussions to advance shared priorities and projects including:

• Youth Leadership – Opportunities to advance northern and Indigenous youth leadership;
• The North Beyond Remediation – Sustainable Planning for Remediation and Post- Remediation of Contaminated Sites to address potential social, economic or environmental risks; and
• Looking Back, Looking Forward – Enhancing the effectiveness and best practices sharing outcomes of the Forum for the Future.

Presentations and moderated panels showcased successful partnerships and learning opportunities for exploring and applying models by each jurisdiction according to their own priorities and needs.

Ministers learned about Nisokapawino Forestry Management Corporation, a partnership between industry and First Nations, Indigenous-owned Arctic Gateway Group, which operates the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill, Canada’s only Arctic seaport serviced by rail, as well as successful examples of industry and Indigenous partnerships in the mining sector.

During the forum, the ministers reviewed and committed to build on three priority projects in respect of each jurisdiction’s roles and responsibilities:

• Documenting best practices to improve drinking water systems in northern and Arctic Canadian communities;
• Phase 2 of the multi-year Youth Leadership Project focused on the proposed engagement plan, including pilot projects across jurisdictions; and
• Development of tools, inventories and models to help each jurisdiction to advance economic reconciliation across the North.

These projects are shared priorities to help facilitate sustainable economic opportunities to ensure a strong future for the North. Indigenous engagement by each jurisdiction is key to successful project outcomes.

Observations by ministers:

“Our government is continuing to work with territorial, provincial, Indigenous, and northern partners to co-develop and co-implement innovative ideas and policies that lead to a more sustainable and more prosperous North and Arctic. This is a key priority of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework. Through this forum and our positive discussions, we will continue to build relationships with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners, bringing long-lasting benefits together with Northerners. We know that implementing solutions developed for Northerners, by Northerners, is the only way to achieve true economic reconciliation across the country.”
The Honourable Dan Vandal, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor

“The Northern Development Ministers’ Forum provides the opportunity to work together on mutual opportunities and challenges with our partners in the North. Newfoundland and Labrador looks forward to continuing work on our shared priorities as we host the 2024 Forum.”
Honourable Lisa Dempster
Minister of Labrador Affairs and Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, Newfoundland and Labrador

Established in 2001, the Northern Development Ministers’ Forum provides federal, provincial, and territorial ministers representing Canada’s North with an opportunity to advance common interests, raise awareness of northern issues and accomplishments, and learn from experiences across jurisdictions.

The next Northern Development Ministers’ Forum will be hosted by Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Le Forum des ministres responsables du développement du Nord se concentrent sur la réconciliation économique par l’action

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