Government of Newfoundland News

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

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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

The post Media Advisory: Minister Byrne to Welcome Second Airlift of Ukrainians appeared first on News Releases.

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

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The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, are attending the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference 2022 in Toronto, Ontario today (Monday, June 13).

The province has participated in the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference for over 40 years. This year, 27 companies with a Newfoundland and Labrador presence 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 Tom Osborne, Minister of Education, will deliver opening remarks at the Jimmy Pratt Foundation Early Childhood Education Conference on Monday, June 13 at 9:00 a.m. The event will take place at the First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity, located at 42 Bannerman Street in St. John’s.

The “’Let’s Get it Right!: Conference on Early Childhood Education for the Next Generation’ will bring child care advocates, government representatives, academics, labour leaders, and Early Childhood Educators from across the province together for a day of discussion and learning.

Media interested in attending are asked to contact Neria Aylward with the Jimmy Pratt Foundation at 709-693-4488 or neria@jimmyprattfoundation.ca.

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Media contact
Tina Coffey
Education
709-729-1906, 687-9903
tcoffey@gov.nl.ca

 

The post Media Advisory: Minister Osborne to Bring Greetings at Early Childhood Education Conference appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, and the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will announce an expansion of capacity for the Practical Nursing program offered by the College of the North Atlantic on Monday, June 13 in Gander. The event will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the Central Health long-term care facility at 1A Magee Road.

Minister Byrne and Minister Haggie will be joined by representatives of College of the North Atlantic.

The event will be live streamed on Facebook.

Media attending are asked to please RSVP to Jeremy Reynolds (jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca).

Attendees will be required to wear masks while inside the facility.

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Media contact
Jeremy Reynolds
709-729-2377, 691-2298
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca

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

 

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The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, today announced that the Provincial Government will bring ‘Come From Away The Concert’ and the new musical comedy ‘Tell Tale Harbour’ to Newfoundland and Labrador as part of the Arts and Culture Centres’ program line up for Come Home 2022.

The Tony and Olivier Award-winning international hit musical ‘Come From Away’ has delighted audiences around the world. ‘Come From Away The Concert’ returns to be presented at the Steele Community Centre in Gander and the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s. This concert production will reunite members of the Toronto cast and band along with original Broadway cast member and the province’s own Petrina Bromley. ‘Come From Away The Concert’ will be presented in Gander, from September 13-15 and in St. John’s, from September 19-20, as marquee events for Come Home 2022.

In October, the province’s Arts and Culture Centres’ present ‘Tell Tale Harbour.’ Based on the screenplay, ‘The Grand Seduction’ by Ken Scott, this new musical comedy from Confederation Centre of the Arts in Prince Edward Island will see its Newfoundland and Labrador debut as another marquee event for Come Home 2022. Co-written by and starring the province’s musical icon Alan Doyle, ‘Tell Tale Harbour’ also features the talents of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians Jillian Keiley and Edward Riche.

Tickets for both shows go on sale Wednesday, June 15 at 12:00 p.m. Tickets for ‘Come From Away The Concert’ can be purchased through the Steele Community Centre Box Office and the Mary Brown’s Centre Box Office. Tickets for ‘Tell Tale Harbour’ can be purchased at artsandculturecentre.com.

Other Arts and Culture Centre presentations featured throughout the remainder of Come Home 2022 include Wonderbolt Circus, Atlantic Jazz Nights, ‘Second Shot: The Curling Musical’ and ‘Middle Raged’ with Geri Hall from This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Featured festival events include ‘The Kitchen Party Theatre Festival’ in Grand Falls-Windsor with Berni Stapleton and the Tombolo Multicultural Festival featuring Juno award-winning Okan. Other prominent artist performances happening include Half Moon Run, Ron Sexsmith, Rum Ragged and Sarah Harmer. Information on these events is available at artsandculturecentre.com.

Quotes
“Exciting things are happening in Newfoundland and Labrador for Come Home 2022. The stage is set and I hope you’re ready for some incredible performances. Along with the impressive performances that will grace the stages of our Arts and Culture Centres province-wide, we are thrilled to be bringing ‘Come From Away The Concert’ and the ‘Tell Tale Harbour’ musical home to our province. I want to say a very special thank you to our partners involved in making this happen, including the producers of the Come From Away concerts and Confederation Centre of the Arts in Prince Edward Island. We couldn’t have done this without your energy and support.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Newfoundland and Labrador’s Arts and Culture Centres offer the best of the best when it comes to this province’s talent, as well as a diverse lineup of artists from across Canada and around the world. I hope residents and visitors seize the opportunity to take in some of the Come Home performances because, in doing so, I’m sure they will have an unforgettable experience.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

“We are beyond thrilled to bring ‘Come From Away’ back to its home in Newfoundland this year! When we first performed our show there, it was a life-changing experience for us – and the Come From Away Company – and we are grateful to be invited back with a Canadian cast including several Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, like Petrina Bromley, coming home from Broadway! It means the world to us to share these stories with the community that was so generous with us and has now inspired millions around the globe.”
Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Creators, Come From Away

“Confederation Centre of the Arts is thrilled to partner with the Arts and Culture Centres to bring ‘Tell Tale Harbour’ to Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s a musical full of East Coast pride about the true meaning of home, so it couldn’t be a more fitting addition to the Come Home 2022 celebrations.”
Steve Bellamy
CEO, Confederation Centre of the Arts

“I hope that our audiences enjoy the exceptional lineup of performances this fall, including the two major productions coming to Newfoundland and Labrador. Please consider supporting the wonderful performing arts offerings at all community venues throughout the province this year.”
Aiden Flynn
Director, Arts and Culture Centres

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Learn more
Arts and Culture Centres

Come From Away

Tell Tale Harbour

Come Home 2022

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

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

Sue Frost
Junkyard Dog Productions
sue@jydprod.com

Emily McMahon
Confederation Centre for the Arts
902-628-6135
emcmahon@confederationcentre.com

The post ‘Come From Away In Concert’ and ‘Tell Tale Harbour’ Musical Part of Arts and Culture Centres’ Program Line Up for Come Home 2022 appeared first on News Releases.

An amendment to motor vehicle regulations now allows for the quick exchange of a Ukrainian driver’s licence for a Newfoundland and Labrador licence.

Ukrainian newcomers with a Newfoundland and Labrador driver’s licence, and a record of their driving history will also be eligible for competitive automobile insurance rates. This progressive change allows Ukrainian newcomers to secure jobs faster and settle in communities throughout the province, better ensuring a long-term stay here.

Ukrainian newcomers can have their Class 5 driver’s licences exchanged at any Motor Registration Division office, provided they are can produce:

• A Ukrainian driver’s licence;
• Proof that they are at least 17 years of age; and
• Proof that their driver’s licence is not suspended, cancelled, revoked, or expired more than five years (driving history record).

If required, the Motor Registration Division can provide letters to individuals to confirm their driving history record. These letters can then be presented to insurance companies to obtain insurance rates comparable to drivers with similar experience.

Any valid foreign driver’s licence can be used for the first three months of residency, after which, new residents must apply for a Newfoundland and Labrador driver’s licence and complete the examination process.

Digital Government and Service NL has assessed Ukraine driver’s licence requirements, and has determined that they are similar to the requirements in this province. With the amendment, Ukraine has now been added to a list of countries for which the Registrar of Motor Vehicles can waive examination requirements.

For the time being, examination requirements are waived for Class 5 licences only. The Registrar could exchange other licences in the future, but more information and assessment is required.

Commercial driver’s licence holders who meet the medical requirements will be tested to ensure compliance with the National Safety Code.

More information on the driver’s licence application process for newcomers can be found here.

Quotes
“Given the requirements for obtaining a driver’s licence in Ukraine are similar to those in Newfoundland and Labrador, the safety risk for drivers coming to this province is low. It is important that we make the transition for Ukrainian newcomers as smooth as possible, as they settle into their new home.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Minister of Digital Government and Service NL

“Getting a local driver’s licence allows our talented Ukrainian newcomers to secure jobs faster and settle in communities throughout our province, while increasing the likelihood of a long-term stay. The Provincial Government continues to add to the compelling package for Ukrainians to ‘Choose Newfoundland and Labrador’. This approach continues to be a success, as demonstrated by the confirmation of a second Newfoundland and Labrador airlift scheduled to land in St. John’s on June 14.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

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

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

The post Newfoundland and Labrador Driver’s Licences Now Available to Ukrainian Newcomers appeared first on News Releases.

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has transferred the historic Grand Falls House and land surrounding the property to the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor.

The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, will be joined by Grand Falls-Windsor Mayor Barry Manuel and Grand Falls House Heritage Committee chair Peggy Bartlett at Grand Falls House to discuss the transfer today, (Friday, June 10) at 12:00 p.m.

The Grand Falls House is being transferred at no cost to the town or province.

Because of the transfer, the department anticipates annual savings from not having to continue to pay to secure and maintain property.

Grand Falls House was built in 1909 by Alfred and Harold Harmsworth and formed part of the properties established to service the paper mill. It is one of the oldest buildings in the community and region. The property comprises a large 1909 Tudor Revival style residence along with a small maintenance garage within a site of mature parkland overlooking the Exploits River.

In 2021-22, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure disposed of nine properties, including a building formerly used by the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture and eight undeveloped parcels of land.

Quotes
“The Grand Falls House has great value for the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor due to its architecture and historical significance. All parties have done due diligence to help make this happen and we are happy to complete the transfer of this property to the town. The property can now be used for the benefit of residents and tourists.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“The Grand Falls House has been a historic icon in Grand Falls-Windsor for generations. With this agreement, the Grand Falls House and its property can be developed into a community attraction that both residents and visitors can fully enjoy. It’s with great pride that we can restore this important piece of our town’s heritage and make it accessible for generations to come.”
Mayor Barry Manuel
Town of Grand Falls-Windsor

““On behalf of the Grand Falls House Foundation, I am so pleased to see the transfer of the Grand Falls House and land to the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor. This 110-year-old mansion has long been an icon within the town for outdoor social events and photo opportunities and this agreement will now allow us to focus on a regional tourism strategy. The house and land, rich in history and heritage, has tremendous potential. In keeping with the foundation’s mandate, we will be reaching out to the community and its stakeholders to develop a viable and sustainable business plan that will be a destination for locals as well as the tourists that visit our province.”
Peggy Bartlett
Chair, Grand Falls House Heritage Committee

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

Robyn Hannaford
Town of Grand Falls-Windsor
709-489-0173
communications@townofgfw.com

Peggy Bartlett
Chairperson, Grand Falls House Foundation
709-486-0714
pmbartlett161@gmail.com

The post Historic Property Transferred to Town of Grand Falls-Windsor; Minster Loveless Available to Media appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, will announce the Arts and Culture Centres program line up for Come Home 2022 tomorrow (Friday, June 10).

The announcement will take place on the upper level of the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John’s at 12:00 p.m. and will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Media attending are asked to please RSVP to Adrienne Luther (adrienneluther@gov.nl.ca).

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

The post Media Advisory: Minister Crocker to Announce Arts and Culture Centres Program Line Up for Come Home 2022 appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable John Hogan, QC, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, will be available to media to provide an update on the report from the Office of the Citizens’ Representative of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The availability will take place at 4:30 p.m. today (Thursday, June 9) outside the House of Assembly.

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Media contact
Emily-Jane Gillingham
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-5524, 730-4607
emilygillingham@gov.nl.ca

The post Media Advisory: Minister Hogan Available to Media appeared first on News Releases.

Today, the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, was joined by the Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, to announce a call for applications for the 2022-23 Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Communities Program.

This program is well recognized throughout Canada and internationally as an effective mechanism for proactive planning for demographic change. The Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Communities Program assists incorporated municipalities, local service districts, and Indigenous governments and organizations, in making their communities more age-friendly.

Funding of up to $10,000 is available for incorporated municipalities and Indigenous governments and organizations to conduct an age-friendly assessment or to implement aspects of an existing Age-Friendly Action Plan. Communities including local service districts that take a regional approach are eligible for up to $15,000.

To obtain a copy of the program guidelines and application form, please visit the department’s website at or call toll-free 1-888-494-2266. The deadline to submit an application is October 14, 2022.

In 2021-22, the following nine communities received funding through the Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Communities Program. Details can be found in the backgrounder below.

For more information on last year’s recipients, please see the backgrounder below.

As part of Budget 2022, the Provincial Government is investing $95,000 for the program.

Quotes
“Throughout the province, the country and around the world, benefits of age-friendly communities continue to be seen and encouraged. As a government, we support this philosophy that regardless of age, ability, income, or other status, people live and thrive best in their own homes and communities. Clarenville and the Random Age-Friendly Communities Board have been leaders and innovators in this area. Most recently, they have launched an Age-Friendly Business Recognition Initiative, which I am confident will be a model for other communities and businesses. Let us all work together to create more age-friendly communities that support the seniors of today and tomorrow.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development

“Engaging with the business community is a sound approach to bring positive change to businesses and enhance experiences for older adults. I commend the Random Age-Friendly Communities organization in providing this opportunity to the business owners of Clarenville to develop ways to acknowledge seniors and ensure their operations are age-friendly. An age-friendly community promotes good health, wellness and safety and instills stronger community connections.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs

“An age-friendly business will recognize the value and changing needs of its customers and employees across all ages. The age-friendly model can help attract and retain customers, as well as older workers in the 21st century.”
Leo Bonnell, Vice Chair
Random Age-Friendly Communities Board

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Learn more
Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador Communities Program

Follow us on Twitter @GovNL, @CSSD_GovNL and @MPA_GovNL

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

Lynn Robinson
Municipal and Provincial Affairs
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

Leo Bonnell
Random Age-Friendly Communities Board
709-466-2933
lcbonnell@nf.sympatico.ca

BACKGROUNDER

2021-2022 Grants under the Newfoundland and Labrador Age-Friendly Communities Program

Applicant Project Description Grant Town of Humber Arm South Age-Friendly Needs Assessment and Action Plan Development $10,000 Town of Hermitage –Sandyville Age-Friendly Coast of Bays $15,000 Town of Lawn Town of Lawn – Age Friendly Needs Assessment $7,160 Town of Clarenville/Random Age-Friendly Communities Board Age-Friendly Business $10,000 Town of Fogo Island Inclusive Spaces Make Happy Faces! – Making changes in our Park $10,000 Placentia Area Chamber of Commerce/ Town of Placentia Age Friendly Placentia – Bridging Generations $13,170 Town of St. Lawrence Cape Chapeau Rouge Walking/Hiking Trail Completion $10,000 Town of Summerford Active for Life $13,170 Town of Point Lance Active Seniors 6,500 Total   $95,000

 

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The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will attend an electric vehicle presentation and demo tomorrow (Friday, June 10), hosted by Drive Electric NL.

The event takes place at Gonzaga High School, 20 Smithville Crescent, St. John’s, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

The post Media Advisory: Minister Davis to Attend Electric Vehicle Event appeared first on News Releases.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is coordinating a second airlift of Ukrainian refugees that will depart Warsaw, Poland and arrive in St. John’s on Tuesday, June 14.

Ukrainians arriving June 14 are equivalent in number and composition to the first airlift that arrived on May 9 – the first government-sponsored airlift for Ukrainian refugees in North America.

All arriving Ukrainians have been granted the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel Visa that permits 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.

After arrival, most Ukrainian newcomers will be transported to pre-arranged accommodations in the St. John’s area to rest and begin adjusting to their new surroundings, while others will travel on to stay with family and friends throughout the province. This transition will be eased because of the pre-arrival support provided by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism’s Ukrainian Family Support Desk.

Options to assist include:

• Employers with job offers can contact UkrainianFamily@gov.nl.ca
• Individuals with housing can contact the Association for New Canadians by email ukraine@ancnl.ca or 709-325-0881
• For additional ways to support Ukrainian newcomers, visit the Association for New Canadians Ukraine webpage.

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

The post Public Advisory: Second Newfoundland and Labrador Airlift of Ukrainian Refugees Arriving June 14 appeared first on News Releases.

On the afternoon of June 7, I received correspondence from Executive Council requesting that I review a report that had been prepared by the Citizen’s Representative, and related correspondence. I had not been consulted prior to receiving this request. Less than a half hour later, before I had the opportunity to consider the request, Executive Council issued a press release indicating that the documents had been sent to my Office for “review and analysis to ensure personal information of complainants is protected”. Also, the Premier and Attorney General held a media availability regarding this matter. While these may not have been the Premier’s words, the media reported that the Premier had “instructed” me to undertake this review. He was quoted to say that I would “scrub” the documents as part of my “due diligence”.

On June 8, I wrote the Clerk of the Executive Council to decline to review these documents. As an independent statutory officer of the House of Assembly, actions that I take are grounded in the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. My primary role, as defined in that statute, is to provide independent review of decisions made by the government and other public bodies. While there is some scope for me to provide advice to public bodies in certain contexts, if I provide detailed advice on a decision of a public body – in this case, reviewing proposed redactions – I become part of the decision making process and thereby undermine my ability to provide independent review. If there was a complaint about this matter, my ability to review it would be compromised. As it happens, I have already received one complaint related to this matter. The suggestion that the review of documents in advance of their disclosure is my due diligence suggests that I bear responsibility for these decisions. Instead, the due diligence must be taken by the public body, and is subject to my review.

It also must be clarified that there is no authority in law for the Premier, any Minister or Cabinet to instruct my Office. The House of Assembly, as the legislative branch, provides oversight of the executive branch. If I was subject to instruction by the executive branch, then my role would not be seen as independent by the public. Trust in government is based on the existence of strong oversight, and the integrity of that oversight must be maintained.

I believe that the Premier’s intention in asking me to review the documents was a good faith effort to protect the privacy of the complainants and witnesses to this report. The only advice that I am able to offer the government is that, if ultimately it chooses to release some or all of these documents or information within them, that it satisfies itself that it has the legal authority to do so, and it makes best use of the resources that it has available to it, in the form of experienced ATIPP coordinators and legal advice, to make appropriate redactions. My role will be to provide independent oversight of these decisions.

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Media Contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research and Quality Assurance
709-729-6309

The post Statement of the Information and Privacy Commissioner Regarding his Office’s Role with Respect to Disclosure of Documents by Public Bodies appeared first on News Releases.

Work to replace a culvert on the Trans-Canada Highway near Norris Arm will begin tomorrow (Friday, June 10).

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure anticipates work on the culvert replacement beginning Friday evening and the highway reopening to traffic Sunday afternoon.

While work is ongoing, both eastbound and westbound traffic will detour through the Town of Norris Arm via Route 351. Motorists are asked to reduce their speed, pay attention to traffic control, and travel cautiously trough the community.

The detour is necessary for the safety of motorists and crews working in the area and to avoid lengthy traffic delays.

A contract valued at approximately $5.4 million was awarded to Municipal Construction Limited in May to complete this work, replace culverts, and repave approximately 11.6 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway between Road to the Isles (Route 340) and Norris Arm this construction season.

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.

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

The post Public Advisory: Temporary Detour This Weekend in Central Newfoundland appeared first on News Releases.