Government of Newfoundland News

The Acting Information and Privacy Commissioner, Jacqueline Lake Kavanagh, has released her Report A-2024-032 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/reports/.

Report:   A-2024-032 Report Date:  July 4, 2024 Public Body: City of St. John’s Summary: The Complainant made an access request for the name of a City of St. John’s snow plow operator. The City denied access, claiming sections 33 (workplace investigation) and 40 (personal privacy) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 and later claiming section 37 (disclosure harmful to individual or public safety) as well. The Commissioner found that section 33 did not apply to the information, that section 40 does not require the City to withhold the names of its employees, and that the City did not meet its evidentiary burden in its application of section 37. The Commissioner recommended that the City disclose the name of the Operator to the Complainant.

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

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The Acting Information and Privacy Commissioner, Jacqueline Lake Kavanagh, has released her Report A-2024-031 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/reports/.

Report:   A-2024-031 Report Date:  July 3, 2024 Public Body: Department of Justice and Public Safety Summary: The Complainant made an access request under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 to the Department of Justice and Public Safety. The Department did not respond to the request in the timeframe required by section 16 of the Act and was deemed to have refused access. The Complainant made a complaint to this Office. The Commissioner found the Department had not complied with its obligations under the Act, in particular sections 13 (duty to assist) and 16 (time limit for final response). The Commissioner recommended the Department comply with its statutory duties in the future, apply for extensions when necessary, provide updates to applicants if deadlines are missed, provide periodic partial disclosure when appropriate, and provide a final response to the request within 10 business days of receipt of this Report.

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The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will make an announcement related to sport and recreation tomorrow (Friday, July 5).

The event will take place at 11:00 a.m. in the East Block Lobby of Confederation Building.

Premier Furey will be joined by the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation; and, Brad Gushue, Olympian and professional curler.

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The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will announce the 2024 recipients of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board’s (MMSB) Community Waste Diversion Fund, tomorrow (Friday, July 5). Minister Davis will be joined by Charles Bown, CEO, MMSB, and and His Worship Mike Doyle, Mayor of Town of Harbour Main-Chapel’s Cove-Lakeview.

The event will take place at the Town of Harbour Main-Chapel’s Cove-Lakeview Community Garden, located on Ballfield Road (off Harbour Drive), beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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A joint investment of approximately $465,000 by the Provincial Government and the Town of Upper Island Cove will support both drinking water and storm system upgrades under the Municipal Capital Works Program.

The project involves the replacement of the old infrastructure with new, modern materials, design and construction standards. Upgrades will be made to the drinking water system in the town and road improvements will facilitate better stormwater collection, minimizing the amount of sediment runoff.

The Municipal Capital Works program fosters the development of cost-shared projects for many types of municipal infrastructure. Typical projects include water and wastewater treatment, seawalls, roads, recreational facilities, town halls and fire halls. Funding is cost-shared between provincial and municipal governments and is available to municipalities, local service districts and Inuit Community Governments. More information on initiatives to facilitate and build on municipal capital works throughout the province can be found here.

Budget 2024 includes more than $172 million for community infrastructure projects being completed under the Municipal Capital Works Program and the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

Quotes
“Municipal infrastructure improvements are important factors in the overall well-being of residents throughout our province. These infrastructure projects also lead to employment for tradespeople and economic benefits across Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“Municipal infrastructure projects like those being funded for Upper Island Cove have a significant impact on residents. Improvements to drinking water systems and road upgrades impact how we experience our towns and communities. I am very pleased these upgrades will positively impact my district.”
Honourable Pam Parsons
Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality and MHA for Harbour Grace-Port de Grave

“On behalf of the Town of Upper Island Cove, I am pleased that we will replace and upgrade the aged infrastructure on three town roads with new modern and sustainable material. We are always working hard to keep our town not only a wonderful place to live and work, but also a great place for tourists. Water and road upgrades will have a lasting impact for years to come.”
Her Worship Cindy Dobbin
Mayor of Upper Island Cove

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The transformation of health care in Newfoundland and Labrador has reached another milestone as the Provincial Government and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services expand digital services with the launch of the MyHealthNL app.

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, made the announcement today. Minister Osborne was joined by the Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service NL and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and Karen Stone, KC, CEO (Interim), NL Health Services.

The new MyHealthNL app provides Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with easy, digital access to their personal health information from their mobile phone, tablet and computer. This enables them to adjust their lifestyle, as necessary, and have informed conversations with health care providers.

Current services on the app allow users to view:

• Lab results (excluding pathology)
• General Radiology reports
• Dispensed medications from community pharmacies
• Allergy information
• Other e-health resources, such as health library, and access to Bridge the gap

A demonstration video of the MyHealthNL app is available online.

The app will be expanded in the coming months to include more services, such as integration to virtual care, access to an online health system checker, and the ability to view certain appointments.

Residents must visit MyGovNL to register for their Personal Health Record before downloading the MyHealthNL app. Once registered, they will receive a code that will be mailed to them within 10 business days. The multi-step authorization process ensures that the privacy of personal information is protected and mirrors the approach taken with Revenue Canada.

New users can register for Personal Health Record by:

• Logging in to MyGovNL
• Clicking Personal Health Record
• Submitting the registration form
• Entering the personal identification number when they receive it

Users can then download the MyHealthNL app on their mobile devices on the Apple and Google Play app stores and log in using their MyGovNL login information.

Budget 2024 includes a record high investment of $4.1 billion in health care to continuing improving access to health care, including $5 million for MyHealthNL.

Quotes
“The new MyHealthNL app is another way we are expanding health care services to everyone in the province. The app now provides people with user-friendly, easy access to services that they can view from their home. It complements our work to recruit and retain health care professionals, provide virtual primary and emergency care, and expand the scope of practice for professionals such as nurse practitioners and pharmacists. All of this works together to form a new and improved health care service in our province.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“We are pleased that the OCIO was able to contribute to this project through the use of MyGovNL. MyGovNL is the foundation that our government is leveraging to support a range of online services for residents. Over 333,000 residents use MyGovNL to complete transactions securely. We applaud the Department of Health and Community Services as well as NL Health Services on the launch of MyHealthNL.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Minister of Digital Government and Service NL and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer

“We are pleased to launch MyHealthNL, an all-in-one app that provides secure and convenient access to health-care services, information and resources. The app can help patients and families monitor medications, better manage chronic conditions, have consistent access to accurate and credible medical information and have more informed discussions with their health-care providers. The app empowers patients and families to become active participants in their own health while demonstrating NL Health Services’ commitment to transforming the health-care system to one that is modern and accessible, as outlined in Health Accord NL.”
Karen Stone KC
CEO (Interim), NL Health Services

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The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, will participate in a Municipal Capital Works funding announcement in Upper Island Cove tomorrow (Thursday, July 4).

The event will take place at the Long Shore Lookout, 100 Meadow Road, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Town of Upper Island Cove’s Council Chambers, 126 Main Road.

Minister Abbott will be joined by the Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality and MHA for Harbour Grace – Port de Grave, and Her Worship Cindy Dobbin, Mayor of Upper Island Cove.

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The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, will make a health care announcement tomorrow (Thursday, July 4).

Minister Osborne will be joined by the Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Digital Government and Service NL and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, and Karen Stone, KC, CEO (Interim), NL Heath Services.

The announcement will take place at the Health Innovation Acceleration Centre, 66 Pippy Place, St. John’s, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with a technical briefing for media at 11:00 a.m.

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The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Labrador Affairs and Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, is participating in ceremonies in France and Belgium July 4-10 as part of the Trail of the Caribou Pilgrimage. The Minister will be joined by Scott Reid, MHA for St. George’s-Humber and Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, attending on behalf of the Premier.

Each year, students participate in the Trail of the Caribou Pilgrimage, a partnership between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Royal Canadian Legion Newfoundland and Labrador Command, and the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

As part of this year’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Confederation, Minister Dempster will be joined by 10 youth representing the five Indigenous Governments and Organizations in the province – Nunatsiavut Government, Innu Nation, NunatuKavut Community Council, Miawpukek First Nation, and Qalipu First Nation.

Also participating in the pilgrimage are 15 students accompanying the Royal Canadian Legion and 16 students who are part of the Ambassador Program coordinated by the Historic Sites Association.

The itinerary includes ceremonies at Beaumont Hamel, Gueudecourt, Monchy-le-Preux, Masnières, Courtrai (Kortrijk), and Menin Gate, as well as visits to the John Shiwak Plaque, the Sgt. Thomas Ricketts memorial, Wellington Quarry, Vimy Ridge, Amiens Cathedral, Compiegne, and a number of significant cemeteries.

The province’s annual pilgrimage to Europe honours the First World War contributions of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment in France and Belgium. The Trail of the Caribou consists of six bronze caribou statues and commemorates the bravery shown by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians during the First World War.

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The Provincial Government is supporting the EXCITE! Corporation as they establish a new simulation laboratory that will assist with recruitment, training and retention of qualified rural healthcare professionals.

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, today announced an investment of $178,750 from the province’s Regional Development Program towards the creation of a Rural Health Simulation Lab. The Provincial Government’s investment is supported by a further $500,000 from the Northpine Foundation towards the project.

The Rural Health Simulation Lab will simulate real-life situations, allowing participants hands-on experience to enhance workplace readiness for challenges encountered in rural settings.  Bringing simulation to rural areas increases exposure and practice at their home sites to enhance those skills needed to provide high quality care in rural settings. The lab will use state-of-the-art simulation technology to enhance clinical skills, cultural competency and teamwork.

The project is in line with the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Accord’s call to develop a more integrated, technologically enhanced, and sustainable health system. It is a partnership between multiple stakeholders including the Miawpukek First Nation, NL Health Services, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Nursing at Memorial University, and the South Central Health Foundation. The lab will help build the rural innovation economy by facilitating new investment and creating research and industry partnerships in healthcare and technology.

The project will include:

• The installation of the simulation lab inside the EXCITE building.
• Purchase of the simulation equipment.
• Training for simulation equipment in partnership with NL Health Services – Central Zone, Memorial University and Miawpukek First Nation.
• Implementation of a mobile training unit.
• Fostering commercial opportunities through the lab.

The EXCITE! Corporation is the not-for-profit business development corporation of the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor. The Regional Development Program provides support by way of non-repayable contributions to organizations for the development and implementation of economic initiatives with respect to regional and sectoral development, diversification, innovation, and key emerging sectors.

Quotes
“The Rural Health Simulation Lab will offer the latest training technologies representing real-life, hands-on situations. Our department is excited to partner with EXCITE! and Northpine to advance this project, supporting both employment and commercial opportunities, as we continue to grow our healthtech and biotech sectors in locations across the province.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology

“We are happy to have EXCITE! establish a simulation laboratory in our province. The Health Accord recommended leveraging technology to improve health across the province and this simulation lab will help train, recruit, and retain health care professionals, which will lead to improved access to health care throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“This advanced health simulation lab will directly enhance the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in communities in Central Newfoundland. We are very excited about being a community-based proponent for innovative infrastructure initiatives that support our region and province. This simulation lab is an investment into our health care industry and will help achieve more positive outcomes in the health care of our citizens.”
Barry Manuel
Chair of EXCITE and Mayor of Grand Falls-Windsor

“We are proud to support EXCITE! and the partners’ innovative approach to healthcare training, addressing a pressing issue with a long-term impact on community well-being. If proven effective, this model could be scaled to increase the quality and capacity of training to address healthcare labour shortages in other remote regions of the country.
Mark Lane
Impact Director, Northpine Foundation.

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Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine is expanding seats for Newfoundland and Labrador students as the undergraduate medical education program will increase to 85 seats from 80 seats in September 2024.

This comes as a result of significant financial investments from the Provincial Government, with Budget 2024 committing $2 million to increase the number of Faculty of Medicine seats at Memorial University for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

This expansion will allow more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to receive their medical education in the province and stay to work in the here following completion of their training. This is essential to the sustainability of health care in Newfoundland and Labrador.

A second expansion of another five seats is planned for September 2025.

Currently, the 80 seats in the Faculty of Medicine’s four-year undergraduate medical education program consists of 69 seats for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, with the remaining 11 seats allocated for learners from other parts of Canada.

This expansion complements other recruitment and retention initiatives led by the Provincial Government to increase the number of health care professionals in the province, which has resulted in more than 520 nurses and more than 110 physicians who have committed to work in the province since April 2023.

In addition to expansion of seats for nursing students in recent years, in June 2024, the Provincial Government announced tuition relief for Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Practical Nursing students in select campuses who begin their studies in September 2024 in effort to attract more students to the nursing profession.

More information for health care professionals interested in learning about the opportunities and incentives to work in Newfoundland and Labrador is available at WorkInHealthNL.ca.

Quotes
“We know that health care professionals who are educated here are more likely to stay and work in Newfoundland and Labrador following graduation. Expanding seats at the Faculty of Medicine and our previous work to expand additional nursing seats is helping to improve access to health care throughout the province.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Memorial’s Faculty of Medicine strives to meet the evolving health care needs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. This includes supporting recruitment and retention of physicians to rural and underserved populations. These additional seats for our Doctor of Medicine program will provide more opportunities for students from Newfoundland and Labrador to study medicine in their home province.”
Dr. Dolores McKeen
Interim Dean of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University

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The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, will attend the Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference (EMMC) from July 3-5 in Calgary, Alberta.

EMMC is an annual gathering of federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for energy and mining portfolios. Ministers will discuss shared priorities for collaborative action to advance energy and mining development across the country.

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The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) will meet in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Ministers will explore carbon management and discuss climate change adaptation and resilience.

CCME is made up of environment ministers from each of the provinces and territories and the Government of Canada. The current president of CCME, the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, will host the meeting, which will be held at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square.

At the close of the meeting on Wednesday, July 10, at 4:00 p.m. (NDT), CCME will issue a communiqué and hold a news conference in the Fort William Ballroom A and B. The Avalon Room will be available as a working room for journalists after 3:00 p.m. NDT.

Members of the media, including journalists from outside of Newfoundland and Labrador, may join the news conference in person or via videoconference. To register for the news conference, please visit https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/69663190306. Please confirm your participation by noon NDT, Wednesday, July 10.

The final communiqué will be posted on the CCME website (ccme.ca) as soon as it is available on July 10.

Further details on CCME are available at www.ccme.ca.(Également offert en français)

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The following is being distributed at the request of The Rooms Corporation:

A sculpture carved by Labrador-based (Nunatsiavut) artist Billy Gauthier has been purchased by The Rooms through a major donation by philanthropist Elinor Gill Ratcliffe.

The Earth Our Mother, was carved from a huge fin whale skull in August 2023 over seven days during the Bonavista Biennale. It is the largest work the artist has created to date. Animal life, landscapes, and faces emerge, telling a multi-part story that holds considerable meaning. The work reflects Gauthier’s relationship to his ancestors, the land, his Inuk heritage, and carries with it the artist’s appeal for responsible stewardship of the planet for future generations.

The donation will ensure that this important artwork remains in the province and in the public domain as Gauthier intended. This generous donation will also support Gauthier’s ongoing artistic practice, as well as programming for schools that The Rooms plans to develop in order to share the message of environmental stewardship carried by the piece. The donation solidifies Billy Gauthier as one of the most significant artists of this province. The remainder of the donation supports the extensive conservation that was required to bring the sculpture into the gallery.

Many resources and much ingenuity went into ensuring the artwork would be displayed publicly, including the safe transportation of this enormous but delicate artwork. The sculpture required isolation for conservation before being placed on exhibition in the gallery. When examining the artwork at The Rooms last October, our conservator discovered insects living deep within the sculpture – before reaching Gauthier, the whalebone had rested outdoors for over 40 years. A unique and innovative conservation approach was developed to ensure the artwork could be moved indoors permanently. The Rooms is grateful to Colbourne Industrial Services for assisting with this endeavour which took several months.

The sculpture was placed on display in The Rooms Level 4 Gallery to mark National Indigenous People’s Day and is now available for public viewing.

Quote
“The people I’d like to reach the most through this truthful tale are the ones with the patience, persistence, and unconditional drive to right our wrongs on our only true home: The Earth. I love science, culture, poetry, nature, visual arts, and truth. This is my attempt to merge them all.”
Billy Gauthier
Labrador-based (Nunatsiavut) artist

“I am an admirer and avid follower of Billy’s work. I was fortunate to be able to view The Earth, Our Mother while Billy was carving her in Bonavista. I knew immediately that this significant work carried an extremely important message, and, like Billy, I wanted to ensure this message would be shared with the people of this province.”
Elinor Gill Ratcliffe,
Philanthropist

“We are so grateful to Billy for creating this magnificent work, and to Elinor for her incredibly generous donation. We recognize the vital message that comes with this beautiful sculpture and we will work to share it with both residents and visitors to this province.”
Anne Chafe,
CEO, The Rooms Corporation

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

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Crown Zone 3 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan Amendment District 5 (2022-2026)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture (Reg. 2314)

The Proponent is proposing an amendment to the Crown Zone 3 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan (2022-2026). The Project is proposed in Forest Management District 5, approximately one kilometre west of the town of Benton in Central Newfoundland. The amendment would create a new harvest block that covers approximately 49 hectares and would provide access to 4800 cubic metres of harvestable timber.  The Forest Management District’s harvest level would be balanced by reducing harvesting elsewhere in the district. No further primary access road construction is anticipated to facilitate this harvesting.

The undertaking was registered on June 26, 2024; the deadline for public comment is August 2, 2024; and the minister’s decision is due by August 10, 2024.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Steady Brook Residential Property                              (Reg. 2308)
Proponent: Susan Kim Dawson                                                           

The Project is released from environmental assessment subject to the conditions as outlined in the minister’s decision letter available on the Department’s Project web page at www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2308/.

Watson’s Pond Quarry                                                     (Reg. 2309)
Proponent: Marine Contractors Inc.                                                    

The Project is released from environmental assessment subject to the conditions as outlined in the minister’s decision letter available on the Department’s Project web page at www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2309/.

Crown Zone 2 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan Amendment (2022-2026)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture (Reg. 2310)

The Project is released from environmental assessment subject to the conditions as outlined in the minister’s decision letter available on the Department’s Project web page at www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2310/.

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

Environmental assessment information is available at:

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

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_Jan-2024.pdf

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Project comments may be sent to: EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca

Anyone submitting comments on a Project under environmental assessment is asked to please advise the Department if they DO NOT wish to have their comments shared with the Project Proponent.

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The Acting Information and Privacy Commissioner, Jacqueline Lake Kavanagh, has released her Report A-2024-030 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 https://www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/reports/.

Report: A-2024-030 Report Date: June 27, 2024 Public Body: Memorial University Summary: The Complainant made an access to information request to Memorial University for records relating to the resumes and cover letters for several employment competitions with the University. The University provided the Complainant with responsive records but withheld the personal information contained in the records, including educational and employment history, citing section 40(1) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. The University also disclosed a form used for evaluating candidates but withheld the actual evaluations pursuant to section 32(a) of the Act. The Complainant asserted that the qualifications of candidates and their evaluations should be disclosed. This Office determined that the University properly applied both sections 40(1) and 32(a), noting the Act’s explicit classification of employment and educational history as personal information, the sensitivity of this information, and the need to provide confidentiality in the hiring process.

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Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309

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The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, and Craig Foley, Chief Executive Officer of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, are issuing a joint statement today in reaction to Marine Atlantic Inc.’s announcement that the Argentia service will be delayed until July 10.

“It is completely unacceptable for one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s vital transportation links to be inoperable during the peak tourism season. We know that businesses are suffering significant losses due to cancellations from the rerouting of passengers from Argentia to Port aux Basques, not to mention the considerable inconvenience that it has created for both visitors and residents of the province. We are deeply concerned about the damage this has done to our reputation as a tourism destination.

Industry and government have worked collaboratively to address access issues over the last few years. Access to, from and around this province continues to be the top priority for the tourism industry and situations such as this impact tourism’s growth and development. The compressed schedule on the Port aux Basques service has allowed for Argentia traffic to be accommodated as temporary relief to the situation. This approach, however, is not sustainable and the added pressure on Marine Atlantic Inc.’s fleet and human resources may strain and negatively impact the Port aux Basques service, as well.

We have requested an urgent meeting with The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport, to bring forward the concerns of the tourism industry and to gain an understanding of what the Federal Government plans to do about this incredibly challenging situation. Furthermore, we have requested a meeting with the Ala’suinu’s owner, Stena North Sea Limited, as well as Marine Atlantic, to ensure that more permanent solutions are found and clear, definitive communications can be shared with visitors and tourism businesses alike. At this point, we need clarity, not announcements on further delays.”

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The Provincial Government is encouraging the public in Western and Central Labrador to take precautions to protect their health due to smoke from wildfires that may cause a reduction in air quality.

The following groups are considered at higher risk of experiencing health effects from smoke:

• People who are pregnant.
• Young children.
• Older adults aged 65 and over.
• People who have underlying medical conditions.
• People who physically exert themselves outside for work or sports.

Minor symptoms can include headaches, a mild cough, sore and watery eyes, and nose and throat irritation. More serious, but less common, symptoms can include severe cough, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and wheezing.

The best way to protect against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke is to reduce your exposure to smoke and seek cleaner air by:

• Keeping windows and doors closed and stay cool.
• Sealing windows and doors properly with weather stripping, if necessary.
• Finding clean cool air.
• Limiting outdoor and strenuous activity.
• Turning off or using recirculation settings on your HVAC system to prevent smoke from entering your home.
• Using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system.
• Using a portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner to filter the air in one area of your home.
• Visiting public spaces such as community centres, libraries, and stores which tend to have cleaner, cooler indoor air.
• Drinking water to reduce inflammation caused by exposure to smoke.
• Caring for those who are vulnerable to wildfire smoke.

Residents are encouraged to contact 811 or to see a health-care provider if they experience any new or concerning symptoms that they feel could be related to the smoke. Residents experiencing a medical emergency should contact 911. If you are unable to reach 911 in an emergency after trying to call from both your cell phone and landline, the public is advised to present at the nearest emergency department.

If you have a chronic health condition and you use rescue medications, make sure that you have enough medication at home and carry it with you when there is wildfire smoke in the area.

The Provincial Government recognizes that this may be a difficult time for people in our communities and encourages them to avail of mental health resources, if necessary. For a full listing of available resources, please visit: https://nl.bridgethegapp.ca/adult/mental-health-services-during-natural-disasters-and-emergencies/. Counsellors are also onsite to support evacuated residents in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Residents in the province can check air quality in their region by consulting the Air Quality Health Index on the Government of Canada website.

For the latest information on the status of wildfires in Labrador, please visit: NL Active Wildfire Dashboard.

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Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are advised that there will be a military flypast, gun salutes and rifle volleys during the July 1 commemoration of the province’s National War Memorial centennial.

These ceremonial elements will be loud and may be distressing to people and animals.

The details are as follows:

Flypast
A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130H Hercules from 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, will conduct a flypast over the National War Memorial at approximately 11:00 a.m. on July 1. The aircraft will fly at an altitude no lower than 500 feet above the highest obstacle on their route.

Flypasts by Royal Canadian Armed Forces aircraft are carefully planned and closely controlled for public safety and are dependent upon weather and flying conditions.

Gun Salute
Between 10:00 a.m. and 10:19 a.m., Combat Engineer Regiment will conduct a 19 round gun salute with blanks at a rate of once per minute to mark the time that the Canadian Armed Forces contingent marches to the National War Memorial. The shots will be fired from Queen’s Battery. Access to the Queen’s Battery area will be strictly controlled during this time.

Rifle Volleys
The guard for the interment of the unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier will fire a 7 rifle, 3 round volley of blanks during the committal of remains at approximately 10:55 a.m. on July 1.

As well, HCMS Goose Bay will arrive at Pier 17 at approximately 2:30 p.m. on June 30. On the morning of July 1, HMCS Goose Bay will come alongside Harvey’s Berth next to King’s Beach for the ceremony. During the ceremony members of HMCS Goose Bay will be on the deck of the vessel for the ceremony.

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The post Public Advisory: Gun Salutes and Military Flypast Related to July 1 Ceremony at the National War Memorial appeared first on News Releases.

In just a few short days, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will come together to commemorate the centennial of the National War Memorial and to pay our respects to our unknown First World War soldier.

On July 1, 2024, the Memorial Day ceremony and burial of the unknown will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m.

For those who would like to attend the commemoration in downtown St. John’s, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will be providing a shuttle bus service from Confederation Building to the Sir Humphrey Gilbert Building. Parking is available in the Confederation Building parking lots and shuttles will take place at the following times:

• 7:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. (from Confederation Building to the Sir Humphrey Gilbert Building)
• 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (return from the Sir Humphrey Gilbert Building to Confederation Building)

The public are welcome to watch the ceremony from Harbourside Park, Water Street, or Duckworth Street. However, there will be restricted access around the National War Memorial to facilitate ceremonial elements such as the Canadian Armed Forces parade. There will be several large screens in place on both Duckworth and Water Streets showing the event.

In addition to attending the events in-person downtown, there are alternate viewing locations for the commemorative ceremony. These locations are:

• The theatre at the Rooms, 9 Bonaventure Avenue
• The Fort William Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square

The ceremony will also be broadcast both locally and nationally for those who would like to watch from home.

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The post Public Advisory: Reminder of the July 1 Ceremony at the National War Memorial appeared first on News Releases.