Government of Newfoundland News

Education and Early Childhood Development

Following a public consultation to help inform a review of the Schools Act, 1997 (the Act), the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will begin one-on-one discussions with key stakeholder groups to further explore potential amendments to the legislation. These groups include organizations such as the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador and the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works has awarded a contract to provide free telephone, smartphone app, and website access to key services used for travel planning.

Executive Council

The following are speaking notes delivered at the Opening of the Fourth Session of the Forty-Eighth General Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador by Her Honour The Honourable Judy M. Foote, PC, ONL, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will attend the 54th Annual Kiwanis Musical Festival in Grand Falls-Windsor tomorrow (Friday, April 5).

Fisheries and Land Resources

The Seal Bay forest access road near Robert’s Arm will be closed to vehicle traffic effective Monday, April 8, until further notice.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Honourable Graham Letto, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, was joined today by Kieran Hanley, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA), to launch public consultations on the provincial environmental assessment processes and regulations. Data gathered will be used to modernize environmental assessments in a way that ensures environmental protection and effective industry regulation.

Service NL

The Provincial Government has appointed Lana Collins and Anne Fagan as public representatives to the WorkplaceNL Board of Directors. The appointments were made through the merit-based appointment process established by the Independent Appointments Commission Act and are effective immediately.

Health and Community Services

The Department of Health and Community Services advises that Fewer’s Ambulance service will take over from Moore’s Ambulance service in the Conception Bay North region.

Executive Council

The Speech from the Throne will be delivered at 2:00 p.m., tomorrow (Thursday, April 4), in the House of Assembly.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Honourable Graham Letto, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, will be joined by Kieran Hanley, Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industries Association, for an announcement regarding the provincial environmental assessment process tomorrow (Thursday, April 4). The event will take place in St. John’s at the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industries Association Main Office, Suite 207, 90 O’Leary Avenue, St. John’s, at 12:00 p.m.

Transportation and Works

Visitors to the Confederation Building Complex in St. John’s are advised that parking in front of East Block at 100 Prince Philip Drive will be available only to media and invited guests attending the Speech from the Throne tomorrow (Thursday, April 4).

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, will speak at the 34th Annual Partners Celebration, hosted by Memorial University’s Faculty of Business Administration tomorrow (Thursday, April 4). The event takes place at Emera Innovation Exchange, Signal Hill Campus, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will open a third round of Expressions of Interest for prospective immigrants around the world who wish to settle in the province and be engaged in the daily operation of a business they create, join, or take over.

House of Assembly

The Honourable Perry Trimper, Speaker of the House of Assembly, is pleased to announce that closed captioning is available for routine proceedings of the House of Assembly, which includes Members’ statements, ministerial statements, question period and petitions. Closed captioning will also be available for the 2019 Speech from the Thorne, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, April 4).

Transportation and Works

Two new highway cameras installed by the Department of Transportation and Works on Route 74 (Hearts Content Barrens) and Route 460 (Hansen Memorial Highway) at Black Duck Siding will help motorists make informed decisions about road conditions before they travel.

Fisheries and Land Resources

Forest access roads in the Botwood, Glenwood, Birchy Bay and Clarke’s Head areas will be closed to vehicle traffic effective Monday, April 8, until further notice.

House of Assembly

The House of Assembly advises that media will be permitted access to the Chamber floor for the Speech from the Throne tomorrow (Thursday, April 4) for photography/videography purposes.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, recently visited Eastern Composite Services in Long Harbour, to view the progress of a project that recovers precious metals from parts and equipment containing mixed metal oxide (MMO). The process gives value to a previously discarded waste stream as the MMO is refined into high grade products that can be sold to precious metal refineries throughout the world.

Transportation and Works

The Provincial Government has awarded Eastern Contracting Ltd. a contract for $3.6 million to repair Bishop Feild Elementary in St. John’s.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, is congratulating the Central and Western Regional Health Authorities on receiving national awards from the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL), for their delivery of value-based health care for seniors in long-term care.