Government of Newfoundland News

Justice and Public Safety

Witnesses, victims, and offenders appearing in the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador will now have the option to take an affirmation or oath with a sacred eagle feather. Today, the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, joined Chief Judge Pamela J. Goulding, and members of the Mi’kmaq community for a special eagle feather bestowment ceremony in Stephenville.

Executive Council
Children, Seniors and Social Development
Municipal Affairs and Environment
Transportation and Works

Today, the provincial and federal governments announced $89.4 million in joint funding for the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund to support Newfoundland and Labrador’s climate action programs. Over $44 million is being provided over the next four years by each level of government to support programs and projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in this province.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

The preliminary results from today’s by-election in Topsail - Paradise are as follows:

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour and MHA for Virginia Waters-Pleasantville, on behalf of the Honourable Graham Letto, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, will make an infrastructure announcement to benefit the towns of Flatrock, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove, and Portugal Cove-St. Philips tomorrow (Friday, January 25). Minister Davis will be joined by Nick Whalen, MP for St. John’s East, and Darrin Thorne, Mayor of Flatrock. The event will begin at 12:00 p.m. at the Flatrock Community Centre, 495 Windgap Road, Flatrock.

Service NL

The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Service NL, will introduce the next location for Motor Registration Division’s online service pilot project at an event tomorrow (Friday, January 25) in Dunville. The pilot helps reduce customer wait times and provide more efficient service. The event will be held at the Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Office, 1116-1120 Main Street, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will speak at the Springdale and Area Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting tomorrow (Friday, January 25). The AGM takes place at the Riverwood Inn, Springdale, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, will join Chief Judge Pamela J. Goulding, to participate in a special eagle feather bestowment ceremony in Stephenville.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will announce programs and funding to increase energy efficiency and promote a low carbon economy tomorrow (Friday, January 25). Premier Ball will be joined by the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services, Government of Canada; the Honourable Graham Letto, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment; the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation; the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Transportation and Works; and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources and MHA for St. John’s West.

Executive Council

The following is being distributed at the request of the Council of Atlantic Premiers:

Executive Council
Children, Seniors and Social Development

Gymnast Michael Drover has been named Team Newfoundland and Labrador’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2019 Canada Winter Games, taking place February 15 to March 3 in Red Deer, Alberta. Mr. Drover will be competing at the Canada Games for the second time, having been a member of the 2015 Canada Games team. His biography is included in the backgrounder below.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report A-2019-004 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism continues to shine, as the marketing campaign ‘Find Yourself’ won six awards at the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) gala in New York City January 22.

Service NL
Transportation and Works

January 21, 2019, Montréal – Today, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Canada's Minister of Transport, and the Honourable Lori Carr, Minister of Highways and Infrastructure for Saskatchewan, co-chaired the annual Council of Ministers responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety.

Finance
Education and Early Childhood Development

The Provincial Government today announced it has reached a tentative collective agreement with the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA). This agreement is subject to ratification by the NLTA’s 6,000 members.

Transportation and Works

Labrador Marine Inc.’s MV Qajaq W, the ferry formerly known as MV Grete, will begin transporting passengers and vehicles across the Strait of Belle Isle later this month, approximately two months earlier than expected.

Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, is pleased to announce the province’s newest appointments to the Queen’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Health and Community Services

The Department of Health and Community Services has started a Pertussis (whooping cough) immunization program for all pregnant woman in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Finance

Due to forecasted inclement weather, the pre-budget consultation session in St. Anthony scheduled for today (Tuesday, January 22) has been rescheduled to Tuesday, January 29, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The session will be held at Hotel North, 31-51 West Street, St. Anthony.

Transportation and Works

The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Transportation and Works, will tour the Labrador Marine ferry MV Qajaq W (pronounced kayak) tomorrow (Tuesday, January 22) beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Newdock Dockyard, 475 Water Street, St. John’s.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Honourable Graham Letto, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.