Government of Newfoundland News

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, will bring greetings at the gala dinner of the NTN Distributor Advisory Conference this evening (Thursday, June 16). The event will take place at The Rooms, 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The gala dinner will provide an opportunity for NTN’s cheque presentation ceremony in support of the Iris Kirby House.

Alex Tagliani, a Canadian professional racing driver, NASCAR champion, and ambassador of NTN’s ‘Happier Smiles, Happier Faces’ Community Outreach Program, will also speak at this event about the importance of NTN’s ‘Happier Smiles, Happier Faces’ Campaign and will auction his driver’s helmet in support of Iris Kirby House.

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Media contact
Victoria Barbour
Finance
709-729-4087, 327-6152
victoriabarbour@gov.nl.ca

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In an effort to address the multiple health system shutdowns in Newfoundland and Labrador resulting from the state of emergency  experienced with the January 2020 blizzard followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cyber attack on health care IT systems, a task force has been established to tackle the current surgical backlog. Following meetings with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, the Provincial Government committed to establishing a task force to look at the surgical backlog and provide meaningful solutions.

The surgical backlog task force members are:

• Rod Martin – Former Chief of Surgery, Eastern Health (Co-Chair)
• Andrée Robichaud – Chief Executive Officer, Central Health (Co-Chair)
• Vanessa Mercer-Oldford – Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Services, Department of Health and Community Services
• Debbie Walsh – Vice President of Clinical Services and Chief Nurse, Eastern Health
• Greg Browne – Chief of Staff, Eastern Health
• Cherry Pike – Clinical Chief of Children and Women’s Health, Eastern Health
• Mark Spurrell – Chief of Surgery, Central Health
• Scott Mackenzie – Chief of Surgery, Western Health
• Antoinette Cabot – Vice President of Clinical Services, Labrador Grenfell Health
• Yvette Coffey – President, Registered Nurses Union of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nicole Parsons – Regional Representative, Registered Nurses Union of Newfoundland and Labrador Board of Directors
• Will Moores – Orthopedic Surgery, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
• Matthew Andrews – Urology, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
• Chris Cox – General Surgery, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
• Lesley Johnston  – Anesthesiology, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association

Recently, the Provincial Government announced initiatives to help address the surgical backlog in the province. These include a partnership with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute to address the waitlist for cardiac surgery, as well as a plan to perform hip and knee joint replacement surgeries on an outpatient basis for suitable candidates.

Also, the Federal Government announced $2 billion in additional health care funding – of which approximately $27 million will go to this province – to help deliver quicker access to health care, reduce the backlog accumulated during the pandemic and support additional surgeries.

Quotes
“I am very pleased with the composition of the task force we have established, as it represents the right mix of individuals to find innovative solutions to address the surgical backlog in our province. Thank you to each of them for stepping up, and to our stakeholders for their continued commitment to working together to address the challenges in our health care system. This task force is another step forward in our efforts to realign and reimagine the delivery of health care in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Similar to other jurisdictions in Canada, our health care system had to reduce services in order to be responsive to potential increases in COVID-19 patients. We were also faced with adverse weather and a cyber attack that impacted health IT systems. I am delighted that, in concert with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, we have established a task force with an aim of developing a plan forward regarding the backlog of surgeries.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services

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Learn more
News Release: Premier Furey Announces New Approach to Address Surgical Backlogs for Hip and Knee Replacement Surgeries

News Release: Premier Furey Announces Agreement with University of Ottawa Heart Institute

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Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca

Laura Thomas
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986
laurathomas@gov.nl.ca

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The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced that Alan Doody has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development.

Mr. Doody replaces Susan Walsh, who was recently appointed as the Seniors’ Advocate for Newfoundland and Labrador. The appointment is effective as of June 20, 2022.

Mr. Doody has been with the Provincial Government since 2003 and has held a number of progressively responsible roles since then. He most recently served as Associate Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Community Services and interim Chief Executive Officer for the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information.

A complete biography can be found in the backgrounder below.

Quote
“Alan Doody has been involved with a number of significant projects during his time with the public service. His background, training and experience have been assets to the Provincial Government and I wish him well in his new role with Children, Seniors and Social Development.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

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Media contact
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Biography of Alan Doody
Alan Doody started his career with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013 and prior to that he served 20 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. His most recent appointment was the Associate Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Community Services and interim Chief Executive Officer for the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information.

Prior to this, he held the positions of Assistant Secretary to Cabinet (Economic Policy) in the Office of the Executive Council,  Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Services, with the Department of Health and Community Services, Assistant Deputy Minister, Government Services, within the Department of Service Newfoundland and Labrador and was the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

Mr. Doody holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Master of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.

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Residents outside of the Eastern Health region without a primary care provider (Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner), can now register with Patient Connect NL. The information provided on Patient Connect NL will be used to plan and improve access to primary health care in Newfoundland and Labrador, with the goal of connecting individuals to a primary care provider as soon as one becomes available in their chosen area. More information on Patient Connect NL can be found here.

Individuals may register online or by telephone at 1-833-913-4679. Once registration has been completed, an email with a reference code confirming registration will be sent to valid email addresses entered during the process. For individuals who may wish to register family members, the reference code provided upon the initial registration can be entered on additional registration forms, and every effort will be made to keep family members connected on Patient Connect NL.

Anyone needing assistance using Patient Connect NL or registering in general can call 1-833-913-4679, or refer to the Quick Reference Guide. Video Relay Service calls are also welcome.

In December 2021, Patient Connect NL was launched for residents in the Eastern Regional Health Authority. With the current expansion, residents within the Central, Western and Labrador-Grenfell health authorities can now have their information collected as well with the aim of being connected to a primary care provider in those regions.

The Provincial Government is continuing its efforts to help strengthen and reimagine the health care system, including steps to attract and retain health care professionals and improve access to primary health care. This includes:

• Two new pilot projects to attract more medical graduates to family practice;
• Expanded virtual care;
• Creation of additional seats for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Studies and Licensed Practical Nursing programs;
• Five new seats at Memorial University’s School of Medicine for students from the province; and
• An Office of Health Professional Recruitment and Retention, as well as an Assistant Deputy Minister position to lead this effort.

Quote
“We know that a consistent, ongoing relationship with a primary care provider leads to a higher quality of care. However, we have to recognize we cannot continue to deliver these services the same way we have in the past. Rather, we need to embrace a team approach that may include a physician, nurse practitioner, physiotherapist, or a diabetes management specialist, for example, depending on your need at the time. The expansion of Patient Connect NL to other regions of the province will help us plan better and provide access to a provider as soon as one is available.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services

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Learn more
News Release: Registration Now Available for Two New Collaborative Team Clinics

News Release: Initiatives Aim to Improve Primary Care Access in Newfoundland and Labrador

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Media contact
Nancy Hollett
Health and Community Services
709-729-6554, 327-7878
nancyhollett@gov.nl.ca

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Susan Walsh, Seniors’ Advocate, will be available to media to discuss her appointment and to provide information on the priorities of seniors, which will be the focus of the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate.

The availability will take place on June 16 at 10:00 a.m. at the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate, Sir Brian Dunfield Building, 2 Canada Drive, St. John’s.

Media attending are asked to please RSVP to Tanya Billard (seniorsadvocate@seniorsadvocatenl.ca).

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Media contact
Tanya Billard
Office of the Seniors’ Advocate
709-729-6603
seniorsadvocate@seniorsadvocatenl.ca

 

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The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2022-007 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

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

Report: A-2022-007 Report Date: June 14, 2022 Public Body: Office of the Premier Summary: The Office of the Premier received several requests under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 for records relating to a dispute between the Complainant, a municipality, and Crown Lands. The Office of the Premier responded that it had no responsive records. During our investigation, the Office of the Premier advised that it had located records but considered them to be not responsive to the requests. The Commissioner concluded that the Office of the Premier had been mistaken in its characterization of the records and had not conducted a reasonable search. The Commissioner recommended that the Office of the Premier conduct a more thorough search, and provide any additional records to the Complainant.

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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309

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The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs and Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, will speak at the College of the North Atlantic’s graduation ceremonies in Happy Valley-Goose Bay today (Wednesday, June 15) and Labrador City tomorrow (Thursday, June 16).

The Happy Valley-Goose Bay event begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Lawrence O’Brien Arts Centre, Voisey Drive.

The Labrador City event begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Labrador West Arts and Culture Centre, 300 Hudson Drive.

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Media contact
Allan Bock
Labrador Affairs Secretariat
709-896-4449, 899-6446
allanbock@gov.nl.ca

 

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The Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service NL, will meet with federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for cybersecurity, biometrics, and digital identity in Quebec City from June 16-17.

In addition to those topics, the ministers will share best practices and hear from experts in these fields.

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Media contact
Krista Dalton
Digital Government and Service NL
709-729-4748, 685-6492
kristadalton@gov.nl.ca

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The Honourable Derek Bennett, Speaker of the House of Assembly, welcomes Susan Walsh to the position of Seniors’ Advocate. The appointment, effective today, was confirmed by resolution of the House of Assembly on May 19, 2022 as per Section 4 of the Seniors’ Advocate Act.

The Office of the Seniors’ Advocate is an independent office of the House of Assembly with the authority to identify, review and analyze systemic issues related to seniors and make recommendations respecting changes to improve seniors’ services. The Office can be reached at 1-833-729-6603 or SeniorsAdvocate@SeniorsAdvocateNL.ca.

Quote
“I extend my congratulations to Susan Walsh on her appointment as the Seniors’ Advocate of Newfoundland and Labrador and wish her success in this role. Her varied experience within the public service and with work respecting seniors’ issues will no doubt be an asset to that office. I also extend my appreciation to the former advocate, Dr. Suzanne Brake, for her contributions during the time she served in that role, and wish her well in her retirement.”
Honourable Derek Bennett, Speaker of the House of Assembly

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Learn more
Office of the Seniors’ Advocate website

Media contact
Bobbi Russell
Policy and Communications Officer
House of Assembly
709-729-1178
bobbirussell@gov.nl.ca

Backgrounder

Susan Walsh, BSW, MSW, RSW
Susan began her career with the Newfoundland and Labrador public service in 1991 as a social worker in mental health services at the Waterford Hospital working with seniors, people with disabilities and the community. She progressed through social worker, frontline management, policy analysis, program development, project management, director/senior management and executive positions. She held these progressive leadership roles within the former Department of Social Services, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Department of Health and Community Services, former Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, Cabinet Secretariat, Core Mandate Office of Executive Council, the Labour Relations Agency and Municipal Affairs.

Susan’s most recent role, prior to her appointment as the Seniors’ Advocate, was Deputy Minister of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development, a position she held since January 2019.

She is a registered social worker with the NL College of Social Workers. She holds a Master of Social Work degree, specializing in policy and administration, from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Memorial University.

The post House of Assembly – Speaker Welcomes Recently Appointed Seniors’ Advocate appeared first on News Releases.

Repairs to the trail in Cataracts Provincial Park are now finished and the area is re-opened for public use.

The trail was closed in February after significant damage to the boardwalk and stairs due to heavy rainfall in the area.

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Media contact
Adrienne Luther
Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
709-729-4819, 730-2953
adrienneluther@gov.nl.ca

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Today, the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, welcomed a second Provincial Government sponsored airlift carrying 177 Ukrainians at St. John’s International Airport.

The airlift that departed Warsaw, Poland and landed in St. John’s, was again coordinated by the Ukrainian Family Support Desk, a Provincial Government initiative launched on March 2, and on-the-ground in Poland since March 17 to provide safe haven to Ukrainians fleeing the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.

All arriving Ukrainians have been granted the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel Visa that legally allows them to live and work in Canada for up to three years. Ukrainians arriving in Newfoundland and Labrador under the Emergency Travel Visa will also receive provincial Medical Care Plan and Prescription Drug Plan coverage. The province has also announced that Ukrainians will be able to have their Ukrainian drivers licenses converted to Newfoundland and Labrador licences.

After arrival, most Ukrainian newcomers were transported to pre-arranged accommodations in the capital region to rest and begin adjusting to their new surroundings, while others travelled on to stay with family and friends throughout the province.

This transition period will be eased for many individuals and families because of the pre-arrival support provided by the Ukrainian Family Support Desk, including:

• Resume translation services;
• Facilitating job interviews with local employers (a number of Ukrainians have already accepted jobs);
• Immigration navigation and processing;
• Pairing Ukrainians with accommodations; and
• Engaging the Association for New Canadians to activate specialized settlement services and supports.

Thanks are extended to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador for supporting Ukrainians and helping to make this airlift possible. For lists of the skillsets of arriving Ukrainians and local employers who have hired them, as well as ways people can contribute to the effort please see the backgrounder below.

The Ukrainian Family Support Desk continues working with Ukrainians who have expressed an interest in coming to Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information about the desk please visit here.

Quotes
“Newfoundland and Labrador led Canada in the effort to assist Ukrainians and proved a provincial government airlift was possible. Since May 9, we have redoubled our efforts in Warsaw and now welcome another 177 Ukrainians as our newest neighbours. The work continues to bring Ukrainians to our province and to ensure they have safe and prosperous lives.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Once again, we welcome our new Ukrainian neighbours with open arms and hospitality only found in Newfoundland and Labrador. We were the first Canadian government on-the-ground in Poland and our commitment to Ukrainians is unwavering. The team remains in Warsaw and will continue to do so to support more Ukrainians to come to our province.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

“The ANC is so pleased to be working with the provincial government to support the resettlement of Ukrainian nationals. Our team continues to deliver important programming to welcome and support these newcomers.”
Megan Morris
Executive Director, Association for New Canadians

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Learn More

News Release: Newfoundland and Labrador Welcomes First Airlift of Ukrainian Refugees

Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @IPGS_GovNL

Like us on Facebook

Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca

Jeremy Reynolds
Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
709-729-2377, 709-691-2298
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca

Jean Graham
Association for New Canadians
709-749-1018
jgraham@ancnl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Skillsets of Ukrainians Arriving June 14, 2022

Medical 

• Nurse
• Pharmacists
• Doctors
• Pharmaceutical Representative
• Dental assistant
• Pediatric Physical Therapist

Engineering/Technology 

• IT Manager
• IT Engineer
• Electrical Engineers
• UX/UI Designer
• Web Designer
• Construction Engineer
• Telecommunications Engineers
• Computer Engineering
• Software Data Analyst
• Computer Technician
• Android Software Developer
• Cyber Security Technical Support Engineer

Trades 

• Drivers
• Construction
• Carpenters
• Kitchen Installer/Assembler
• Seamen
• Heavy Equipment Mechanic
• Underground Miners
• Aircraft Maintenance
• Welder
• Tailor/Embroiderer
• Mechanic
• Baker
• Window and Door Installer
• Glass Cutter

Professional Services 

• Sales Managers
• Systems administrator
• Recruitment Agency Coordinator
• Photographer
• Lawyers
• Economists
• Underwriter
• Internal auditor
• HR Recruiter
• HR Manager
• Accountants
• Event Planner
• Party Planner
• Real Estate Agent
• Project Manager

Personal Services 

• Beautician
• Cosmetologist
• Hair Dresser

Tourism and Hospitality

• Hotel Receptionist
• Hotel Management
• Hotel Cleaner
• Tourism and Migration Consultant
• Bartender
• Cooks
• Waitress

Other

• Goldsmith/Jewelry Maker
• Police Officers
• Artist
• Teachers
• Social Worker
• Journalist
• Government Procurement
• Customer Relations Officer
• Security Guard
• Firefighter
• Social Media Manager
• Insurance Sales Manager
• Bank Customer Service Manager
• Logisticians
• Warehouse Manager
• Warehouse and Production Line Workers
• Production Line QA/QC
• Ice Skating and Hockey Coach
• Secretary
• Marketing Specialist
• Cashiers/Sales Assistants
• Ecologist
• Records Management Technician
• Food Production Executive

Locals Employers Who Have Hired Ukrainians 

PAL Airlines Provincial Aerospace Mary Brown’s Heritage Square Retirement Living Rambler Metals and Mining Eastern Edge Gallery Your Style Kitchens PF Collins Sheraton Hotel S&L Porter Homes Genoa Design Monastery Spa & Suites McInnis Cooper Holiday Inn Dildo Brewery By Sharpe Design Sable Building & Design Ltd. Cyno Sunsets Kitchen & Bath Design Viking Construction Manna Bakery Sysco Distinctive Interiors Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism Canadian Tire Costco Offshore NL Delta Hotel Gannett Construction Fogtown Barber Shop Whale House Guest House City Tire Hollywood Nails and Spa Christopher’s Trucking Association for New Canadians Dallas Mercer Consulting Island’s Finest Mahoney’s Electrical Ltd. Westmount Hospitality Group Yellowbelly Brewery Murray Premises East Side Mario’s Labatt Brewing Company Coleman’s Iron Rock Brewing Celtic Heath

How Newfoundlanders and Labradorians Can Help Ukrainian Newcomers

With the second Provincial Government sponsored airlift bringing Ukrainians directly to Canada having arrived on Tuesday, June 14 at St. John’s International Airport, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is reminding residents how they can help welcome and support Ukrainian newcomers.

Residents can help by:

• Identifying job opportunities for Ukrainians and sending those positions to ukrainianfamily@gov.nl.ca;
• Sending offers of accommodation and donations of goods and/or services to the Association for New Canadians Ukraine Support Team at ukraine@ancnl.ca or 709-325-0881; and
• Donating to the Association for New Canadians Emergency Fund, with tax receipts for donations greater than $20.

The Association for New Canadians is also recruiting volunteers to participate as:

• Interpreters (Ukrainian and other languages);
• Family Match Program participants (volunteers are matched with newcomers to help with English as a second language learning through friendship. Activities could include exploring the city, sightseeing, going for walks and sharing meals together); and
• Conversation circle partners (newcomers are given the opportunity to start practicing conversational English).

Those interested in volunteering are asked to register for orientation by emailing volunteer@ancnl.ca.

The post Newfoundland and Labrador Welcomes Second Airlift of Ukrainians appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, will bring greetings at a reception for Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité (RDÉE Canada) tomorrow (Wednesday, June 15).

The reception, being hosted by Horizon TNL, begins at 5:00 p.m. at Delta Hotels St. John’s Conference Centre, 120 New Gower Street, St. John’s.

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Avis aux médias : le ministre Abbott offrira ses salutations à la réception du RDÉE Canada

Media contact
Khadija Rehma
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 730-2977
khadijarehma@gov.nl.ca

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The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, will speak at a national virtual webinar to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day tomorrow, (Wednesday, June 15) at 1:00 p.m.

The annual webinar hosted by CanAge and partners, including Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, and the BC Association of Community Response Networks, aims to promote awareness and prevention of abuse and neglect of older persons.

To register for the event, visit www.weaad.ca.

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Media contact
Khadija Rehma
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 730-2977
khadijarehma@gov.nl.ca

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Paving of eight kilometres will begin this summer on the Trans-Canada Highway in southwestern Newfoundland between South Branch and Overfalls Brook.

A contract valued at approximately $6.6 million has been awarded to Marine Contractors Ltd. to complete the work during this construction season.

The work is planned for the same vicinity of the highway that was damaged during heavy rains in November 2021. The work is unrelated to work completed last fall.

The contract also includes:

• Brush clearing and ditching between South Branch and Overfalls Brook;
• Replacing culverts and repairing shoulders between Blue Ponds and Beaver Pond Road; and
• Ditching and paving of approximately 1,300 metres of Cold Brook Road.

Other work on the Trans-Canada Highway between Blue Ponds and Pinchgut Lake and Cape Ray to South Branch is being planned for 2023-24.

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 nl511.ca and on the NL 511 mobile app.

Quote
“People who travel in this region know the condition of the highway. This work, in addition to the work completed last fall and work planned for next year, will lead to a more secure and safer drive for people travelling in this part of the province.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

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Media contact
Kathryn Summers
Transportation and Infrastructure
709-729-1758, 699-6147
kathrynsummers@gov.nl.ca

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The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture is planning to carry out a spruce budworm control program this summer at various sites in western Newfoundland and on the Northern Peninsula. The program proactively targets rising populations of spruce budworm in an effort to prevent a province-wide outbreak of this destructive forest insect.

Aerial treatments are anticipated to start this week on designated forest treatment blocks at various locations between Jeffrey’s and St. John Bay, subject to weather conditions and insect development.

Treatments will consist of one or more applications of Btk, a biological control product commonly used in forest pest management that has been approved for operational use by the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Additional information about Btk is available on the Department of Environment and Climate Change website.

Program information including times, locations and maps associated with treatment activities will be available on the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture 2022 Forest Insect Control Program web page or by calling the Forest Insect Control Program Daily Update Line at 1-877-636-2996.

Public signage and maps of proposed treatment areas will be posted at forest access roads leading to proposed treatment areas.

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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca

The post Public Advisory: Province Set to Commence Spruce Budworm Control Program appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, are attending the BIO 2022 International Convention and Trade Show (BIO 2022) in San Diego, California today (Tuesday, June 14).

BIO 2022 is the world’s largest biotech business partnering and education event with global biotech leaders and innovators pursuing global partnership and business development opportunities. Seven Newfoundland and Labrador companies and organizations are attending.

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Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca

Kelly-Anne Roberts
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-5248, 327-7005
kelly-anneroberts@gov.nl.ca

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The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, will welcome a second Provincial Government sponsored airlift of Ukrainians tomorrow (Tuesday, June 14) at the St. John’s International Airport. The flight will travel directly from Warsaw, Poland to St. John’s.

Media interested in attending are asked to RVSP by 2:00 p.m. with Jeremy Reynolds (jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca).

Masks are required to be worn inside St. John’s International Airport.

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Media contact
Jeremy Reynolds
Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
709-729-2377, 709-691-2298
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca

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Today, the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, and the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, were joined by representatives of College of the North Atlantic at the new Central Health long-term care home in Gander to announce an additional 92 Practical Nursing program seats across five campuses for the 2022-23 academic year. These additional seats will help meet the demand for practical nurses and builds on the strong relationship between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and College of the North Atlantic, as well as the college’s long-standing partnership with Eastern Health’s Centre for Nursing Studies, to deliver its Practical Nursing program throughout the province.

A $3.87 million investment, through the provincial-federal Labour Market Development Agreement, will fund this expansion of seats that will be distributed across the college’s Gander, Bay St. George, Burin, St. Anthony and Carbonear campuses. These seats, when added to the 144 regular annual intake, result in a new total capacity of 236 seats.

The distribution of practical nursing seats across College of the North Atlantic campuses for 2022-23 is as follows:

Site Annual Intake Additional Seats Total Capacity Carbonear 32 8 40 Clarenville 24 – 24 Corner Brook 32 – 32 Grand Falls-Windsor 32 – 32 Happy Valley-Goose Bay 24 – 24 Bay St. George   16 16 Burin   16 16 Gander   36 36 St. Anthony   16 16 Total Seats 144 92 236

The need for practical nurses is significant, particularly in rural areas, and new demand has been created by long-term care facilities that are being constructed in the province.

This is the latest of a number initiatives to improve health care and health outcomes in the province, which are identified in the backgrounder below.

Quotes
“By adding 92 seats to upcoming class of practical nurses at College of the North Atlantic, our government is again delivering on a commitment to develop a workforce that meets the needs of Newfoundland and Labrador. These students are being trained in the communities they will eventually live and work in, which is an incredibly important part of this initiative.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

“Licensed Practical Nurses are an integral part of our health care system, and we must continuously work on ways to support those working in our health profession across the province. The additional 92 seats to the LPN program helps address recruitment and retention shortages which will no doubt make a positive impact to the delivery of health care services in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Our role at College of the North Atlantic is to provide hands-on and practical training to our students so they can help meet sector and labour demands in the local and global economy. To see this multi-million dollar investment in the college, our School of Health Sciences, and our future Practical Nursing graduates by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador highlights the recognition for the demand and the collaboration to keep us on the right path. We will continue playing an active role in supporting the health care sector and this province to ensure we graduate career-ready Practical Nursing professionals well into the future.”
Elizabeth Kidd
President/Chief Executive Officer, College of the North Atlantic

“The Centre for Nursing Studies welcomes this expansion of the Practical Nursing Program, which will make it more accessible to students in rural areas of Newfoundland and Labrador. As the parent institution for the delivery of practical nursing education in the province, we are pleased to provide the curriculum for this program. We look forward to continued collaboration and partnership with the College of the North Atlantic to further expand the program across the province and are excited at the prospect of welcoming additional practical nurses into this rewarding field of work”
Dr. Kathy Watkins
Director, Centre for Nursing Studies

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Media contacts
Jeremy Reynolds
Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
709-729-2377
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca

Laura Thomas
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 727-0341
laurathomas@gov.nl.ca

Michelle Barry
College of the North Atlantic
Michelle.barry@cna.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Recent initiatives to improve health care and health outcomes in Newfoundland and Labrador include:

• Working to address challenges surrounding the recruitment and retention of health care professionals throughout the province by: expanding the number of seats available to Newfoundland and Labrador residents in Memorial University’s Undergraduate Medical Education Program, beginning September 2023, adding seats to the paramedicine program, and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
• Reaching an agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding between Eastern Health and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute that allows for a number of patients, deemed to be suitable, from Newfoundland and Labrador to travel to Ottawa for cardiac surgery. This temporary, short term-strategy will help address concerns in the province with cardiac surgical backlogs, which have increased due to COVID-19 and the recent cyberattack.
• Launching Our Path of Resilience, a five-year action plan that includes 12 targeted actions and a commitment to improved monitoring, surveillance and research aimed at reducing suicide in Newfoundland and Labrador. The action items focus on community mental health literacy and capacity building, as well as prevention, intervention and follow-up services for people impacted by suicide.
• Introducing a new approach for dealing with the surgical waitlist for hip and knee joint replacement surgeries. Beginning this fall, a number of hip and knee replacements will be performed on an outpatient basis, eliminating the need for a post-operative hospital stay, as patients would mobilize shortly after surgery and return home the same day. The introduction of same-day joint replacements will help to minimize wait times and improve access to care as in some cases lack of available beds for in-patient care has been a barrier to a patient receiving planned surgery.
• Investing $18 million to Memorial University for innovative projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, to reap the awards of accessing state-of-the-art innovation and research. This important work will benefit health care by providing medical data technology and collection, evaluating skills gaps, as well as provide essential exploration and learning opportunities.

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The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, will bring greetings at the Daybreak Parent Child Centre’s 50th Anniversary Open House tomorrow (Tuesday, June 14) at 1:30 p.m.

The open house takes place at Daybreak Parent Child Centre, 74 The Boulevard, St. John’s.

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Media contact
Khadija Rehma
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 730-2977
khadijarehma@gov.nl.ca

The post Media Advisory: Minister Abbott to Bring Greetings at Daybreak Parent Child Centre’s 50th Anniversary Open House appeared first on News Releases.

Today, the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, announced a call for applications for the 2022-23 Inclusion Grant Program. Funding up to $25,000 is available to eligible community-based and non-profit organizations to help them create more accessible and inclusive facilities and events.

Initiatives under the Inclusion Grant Funding Program to date have included installation of ramps, automatic doors or visual alarms, as well as sign language interpretation or captioning. A complete list of organizations that received funding in 2021-22 is found in the backgrounder below.

To obtain a copy of the policy, application and more information on the Inclusion Grant Program, please visit the department’s website, call toll-free 1-888-729-6279, or text 709-725-4463. Video Relay Service calls are welcome and information and applications are available in alternate formats.

The deadline for applications is September 9, 2022.

As part of Budget 2022, the Provincial Government is investing $75,000 for the Inclusion Grant Program for 2022-23.

Quotes
“Our Government is committed to advancing accessibility and inclusion, which provides the foundation for healthy and thriving communities. The Inclusion Grant Program supports groups and organizations to ensure that programs, projects, events or meetings have accessibility features, so that everyone can fully participate and contribute to their communities. I encourage all organizations to start thinking about this important next step, and submit their applications as soon as possible, but certainly by the September 9th deadline.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities

“CNIB has a goal to be accessible and inclusive to everyone. The funding from the Inclusion Grant enabled us to construct a ramp on our building that will not only support CNIB employees, clients, volunteers, and its stakeholders, but also the three other non-profits which reside in our building. The addition of the ramp to our building has truly created a completely accessible and inclusive space for everyone.”
Amanda Halliday
Coordinator, Community Giving and Team Operations
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)

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Learn more
Inclusion Grants Funding Program

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Media contact
Khadija Rehma
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3178, 730-2977
khadijarehma@gov.nl.ca

Amanda Halliday
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
709-754-1180 ext. 5807
amanda.halliday@cnib.ca

BACKGROUNDER

2021-22 Grants under the Inclusion Grant Funding Program

Organization Description Amount Coalition of Persons with Disabilities – NL Sign language interpretation for meetings $2,990.00 CNIB NL Accessibility renovations (entranceway and emergency exit) $8,824.33 St. John’s Status of Women Council/Women’s Centre Sign language interpretation for public events $2,357.50 Topsail United Church Alternate formats, assistive listening device purchase and audio support, captioning for events $3,776.96 Gander Elks Lodge #310 Accessibility renovations (ramp) $16,100.00 Food First NL Alternate format and assistive listening device purchase for meetings $4,440.44 Grand Bank Lions Club Accessibility renovations (entranceway, emergency exits) $7,685.86 Resettlers Museum Accessibility renovations (ramp for community events) $3,306.25 Corduroy Brook Enhancement Association Inc. Assistive listening device purchase $3,967.00 SeniorsNL Sign language interpretation for meetings $5,000.00 Easter Seals NL Switches, accessible AED, sign language interpretation classes $2,183.85 Manuels River Accessibility device (hippocampe wheelchair with attachments) $11,005.48 Our Lady of Mercy Committee Accessibility renovation project – entrances, handles/switches, ramp $25,000.00 Status of Women Central Accessibility renovation project –  entrance, ramp, washroom $23,300.00 Salvation Army Gambo Corps Accessibility renovation project – entrances, handles/switches, signage, lighting, wayfinding, washrooms $11,400.00

The post Applications Being Accepted for the Inclusion Grant appeared first on News Releases.