Government of Newfoundland News

The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, will bring greetings at the grand opening of Fort Amherst Healthcare’s Adult Day Program “The Neighbourhood” tomorrow (Thursday, May 25).

The opening takes place at Bishops Gardens Senior Living, 190 Pennywell Road, St. John’s beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The Neighbourhood is a drop-in accessible Adult Day Program that provides affordable social and recreational programming and personal care support in a safe and friendly environment.

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The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Labrador Affairs and Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation:

Speaker, I am proud to tell you about a group of enterprising students who have earned the right to compete next month at an international competition in Colorado.

The Shark Tech team at Labrador Straits Academy placed second overall in a provincial competition, hosted by Marine Institute – an incredible achievement for a small school of fewer than 150 students. Competing against larger schools in the province, 10 students from L’Anse au Loup spent more than 1,200 hours designing and building a remotely operated vehicle.

This Labrador school and Mount Pearl Senior High are the two teams that will represent Canada on the world stage, competing against teams from Indonesia, California, New England, Hong Kong and other places around the globe. This is the first team from Labrador to qualify for an international robotics event, but even more remarkably, the first team to advance from a regional competition in their first year of competition.

This accomplishment is the result of the dedication and commitment of students and teachers, as well as the unfailing support of parents and community.

I ask members of this Honourable House to join me in congratulating the students from Labrador Straits Academy. As you prepare to leave your tiny corner of Labrador and put your talents up against the best in the world, we want you to know that the Big Land – and the entire province – is rooting for you.

 

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The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure:

Speaker, on March 21, two Transportation and Infrastructure employees at Cold Brook Depot, Mr. Roland Beanland and Mr. John Tobin, were conducting a regular road condition check on Route 460 when they came upon a vehicle that had sustained major damage. They subsequently found a young man still seated behind the wheel, and soon learned the vehicle had hit a moose and, while the driver was conscious, he was not coherent.

The men called 911 and proceeded to get the vehicle out of harm’s way. While they waited for emergency services to arrive, the two men – along with the assistance of another passerby – attended to the young man. At times, they thought they had lost him, but they continued their efforts to keep him conscious and alive.

The next day, they learned the young man had sustained serious injuries. The doctor stated it was most likely their efforts that kept him alive.

Speaker, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to these employees for their courageous efforts. It is not always recognized that our public service employees – who are on our roadways in every region of our province as part of their daily work – sometimes play the role of first responder until help arrives.

I ask all members to rise and thank Mr. Roland Beanland and Mr. John Tobin for their valiant efforts in helping to save a life.

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Today, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of Newfoundland and Labrador released an Investigation Report into the 2021 cyberattack on the provincial health authorities.

The province has received the Investigation Report and will review the key findings and recommendations and provide a formal response to the Privacy Commissioner’s Office.

In response to this attack, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador activated the provincial Emergency Operations Centres, along with the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information and the four Regional Health Authorities to contain and mitigate system impacts, while continuing to provide health care services. The appropriate authorities were notified, including the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the OIPC, with additional external cybersecurity experts along with the Government of Canada engaged to provide advice and assist with efforts to contain, investigate, and safely restore health care systems.

Quote
“We are pleased the OIPC found that the province took reasonable steps to investigate and contain the cyberattack. This was a complex cybersecurity incident, but we are confident that reasonable security steps have already been taken – and are being taken – to mitigate the risk of a potential future incident. We will continue to engage leading experts in cyber security and work with the new amalgamated provincial health authority and other partners as part of our continuing commitment to strengthen the privacy protection for personal health information of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Minister of Justice and Public Safety

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To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/commissioner.

Report: P-2023-001/PH-2023-002 Report Date: May 23, 2023 Public Body: Provincial Health Authority and Department of Health and Community Services. Summary: 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 Investigation Report may be found on our web site at www.oipc.nl.ca under “What’s New” or click on “Reports” and navigate to “PHIA Privacy Reports” or “ATIPPA Privacy Reports.”

The Report was 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.

The Report contains 34 findings and six recommendations. All six recommendations are directed to the new Provincial Health Authority.

The Report found that significant cyber security vulnerabilities existed for some time prior to the cyber attack, that these vulnerabilities were known within the Centre for Health Information when it took over responsibility for cyber security from the Regional Health Authorities, and that the Department was informed in 2020, over a year prior to the cyber attack, that a threat assessment rated the chances of a cyber attack as “high” and the impact of such an event as “high.”

Efforts to reduce these vulnerabilities prior to the cyber attack were inadequate. The resulting cyber attack was the largest privacy breach ever experienced in this province, which saw the personal health information or personal information of the vast majority of our population taken by malicious threat actors. It was also one of the largest ransomware attacks in Canada to date.

The Report found that the Centre for Health Information took reasonable steps in investigating the cause of the cyber attack and attempting to contain the privacy breach. Many, but not all of the steps taken to notify affected individuals were reasonable. The Department took a leading role in what information would be disclosed and when, and it did not provide an adequate response to our questions to justify the delay in publicly disclosing certain details about the cyber attack.

The havoc caused by the cyber attack is not the end of the story. Since the date of the attack, substantial effort has been expended by the Centre for Health Information (now part of the new Provincial Health Authority) through a series of projects called Breakwater, which has significantly enhanced cyber security for our provincial health information systems. Our Report concludes that reasonable cyber security steps have been taken since the cyber attack, and work is continuing in order to mitigate the risk of a future cyber attack, and to reduce its impact should one occur.

Mr. Murray commented: “Cyber security is and will continue to be an ongoing arms race with organized crime as well as state-sanctioned actors who will not only attempt to extort us and breach our privacy, but also cause us to incur significant costs and harm actual health care delivery and other public services and critical infrastructure, potentially putting lives at risk. It’s nothing less than a matter of national security and needs to be treated as such going forward.”

Among the six recommendations, one is that the Breakwater projects be appropriately resourced and implemented within the time frame outlined in the plan, with the goal of ensuring that cyber security across the provincial health information system meets internationally accepted cyber security standards. “Bolstering security in the short term only to see it lag again over the medium to long term will see us just as vulnerable as we were in 2021, and that is not an acceptable option.”

Another recommendation is that the Provincial Health Authority create a Chief Privacy Officer position. Other recommendations focus on notification and information management policies.

Mr. Murray commented, “They say never waste a crisis, and indications are good so far that important lessons have been learned. However, those lessons must be fully integrated into the underlying philosophy and operational mandate of the entire health care system, not only in word, but in deed. There will be financial costs of course, but there are even greater financial costs if we fail. Failure would also mean the incalculable cost of losing public trust in our health care system, which has certainly taken a hit with this cyber attack. I hope this Report, by shedding light on the 2021 cyber attack and how our health care organizations responded to it and are working to prevent future such attacks, will help to restore some of that public trust.”

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

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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The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, in partnership with the Association for New Canadians, announced more than $11 million for a suite of housing and employment supports to assist Ukrainians to settle and raise families in Newfoundland and Labrador. This announcement, to support the nearly 2,800 Ukrainians in the province, includes additional housing supports and the new Ukraine Job Connect initiative to support employers in hiring Ukrainians and boost the province’s overall employment.

Housing and settlement supports being offered to Ukrainians include:

• Launching an innovative, province-wide homestay hosting program. Approved host families will receive $1,000 monthly for up to five months for hosting Ukrainians;
• Moving expense assistance of $2,000 for Ukrainians leaving temporary accommodations who are moving to leased accommodations in the St. John’s Census Metropolitan area, $4,000 for outside the St. John’s area, and $6,000 for Labrador;
• A $3 million call for proposals for innovative housing projects for Ukrainians, such as:
• Repurposing vacant property;
• Housing repair and maintenance assistance; and
• Co-housing initiatives; and
• Expanding access to conversational English classes and workplace-based English support for Ukrainians.

The Association for New Canadians continues to compile a database of available housing throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Homeowners with vacant properties can register their housing with the Association for New Canadians by contacting ukraine@ancnl.ca or 709-325-0881.

Staff at the Provincial Government’s Regatta Plaza Employment Centre in St. John’s, and the Association for New Canadians, are together offering targeted employment services to Ukrainians. Through the new Ukraine Job Connect, staff are working with Ukrainian newcomers by connecting them to employers looking to fill vacancies. These services are also available at all 19 employment centres throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Ukrainian job seekers can visit the webpage for more information.

Employment supports offered by Ukraine Job Connect include:

• A 42-week wage subsidy (up to $12 per hour for eligible employers); 70 per cent for first 14 weeks, 60 per cent for second 14 weeks; and 80 per cent for third 14 weeks);
• Short-term training to connect to employment (e.g., preparing for work in building sector, retail or restaurants);
• Matching qualified Ukrainians to employers looking to fill vacancies;
• Assistance with credential assessment, language training and immigration; and
• Helping employers with settlement services and cultural competency training.

Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022, about 700 Ukrainians have arrived on four Provincial Government sponsored airlifts and nearly three times that number have arrived by their own means, with more arriving weekly. The Association for New Canadians has helped 1,600 Ukrainians secure permanent housing throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. More than 280 employers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have hired almost 600 Ukrainians.

Unlike all Federal Government-Assisted Refugees, Ukrainians arriving here are not eligible for a full-year of federal income support and do not have instant permanent residency status. This leaves Ukrainians especially vulnerable and in dire need of both full-time employment and permanent housing.

For information on employment supports and programs available for citizens and permanent residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, please see attached backgrounder.

Quotes
“More than twice the number of Ukrainians we brought here by airlifts are now in permanent housing and nearly the same number are working, but we aren’t stopping there. If we want Ukrainians families to ‘set roots’ and become Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we must do more to give them access to the same generous supports that we enjoy. Today’s announcement of $11 million in employment and housing supports, delivered in partnership with the Association for New Canadians, is a major step forward to achieving that goal.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

“The Association for New Canadians is delighted to collaborate with the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills on these innovative employment and housing initiatives. This generous funding will go a long way in supporting the settlement and employment goals of Ukrainians living in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Megan Morris
Executive Director, Association for New Canadians

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BACKGROUNDER

Employment Supports for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians

This announcement is a step towards providing Ukrainian newcomers an equivalent level of employment and skills development supports that are already available to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Budget 2023 provided an investment of $140 million for 15,000 workers and 2,500 employers for recruitment, retention and skills development to meet an ever-evolving demand for labour. This federal funding, provided through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Development Agreement also assists underrepresented groups, such as women, persons with disabilities, youth and newcomers to secure employment.

• Annual investments include:
• • $2.6 million for over 300 employers to train over 3,600 individuals to get the skills they need;

• • $47 million to assist 3,800 people get training to connect them with employment; and

• • $14 million to connect 1,000 employees to employers through wage subsidies.
• Programs include:
• • Wage subsidies that fund employers to create sustainable long-term or seasonal employment. Funding helps offset salary costs to create new positions;

• • The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant to help with the cost of training existing or future employees;

• • The Labour Market Partnership Program, which supports employers to develop and implement strategies and activities to deal with labour force adjustments and meeting human resource demands. The program also provides assistance for employed persons who are facing loss of employment;

• • Work-Related Disability Supports to provide persons with disabilities work-related supports to assist with seeking or maintaining employment;

• • Skills Development program for those seeking full-time post-secondary training; and

• • Student Summer Employment program that assists private sector businesses and non-profit groups create summer employment for post-secondary and high-school students.

Job seekers interested in availing of employment and training supports can visit this webpage for more information.

Employers looking to use wage subsidies to hire or grants to train their employees can visit this webpage for more information.

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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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School Milk Foundation

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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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