Government of Newfoundland News

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, today thanked the Child and Youth Advocate for her report regarding the recovery of child support payments from income support benefits and provided an update on a review currently underway by the department.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to recognize Tourism Awareness Week May 27 to June 2 as it provides us all an opportunity to highlight the tremendous value of tourism to the provincial economy.

Children, Seniors and Social Development

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to congratulate Jaime Lundrigan, who was recently presented with the National Child and Youth Care Award by the Council of Canadian Child and Youth Care Associations.

Service NL

Proposed amendments to the Highway Traffic Act will further strengthen impaired driving legislation in the province in anticipation of legalization of cannabis in Canada.

Finance
Justice and Public Safety

The Provincial Government today is introducing several pieces of legislation in the House of Assembly to prepare Newfoundland and Labrador for the legalization of cannabis for non-medical purposes. In addition to amendments to several existing pieces of legislation, a new Cannabis Control Act will also be introduced for second reading.

Office of the Child and Youth Advocate

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate has completed a review into the recovery of child support payments. Today the office has released the report Making Waves: Ensuring Children Benefit From Child Support Payments. This systemic review focuses on current practices related to recovery or claw back of child support payments from Income Support benefits. There is growing dialogue and legal actions throughout the country criticizing such policies as regressive and infringing on the rights of children.

Justice and Public Safety

The safety and wellbeing of inmates and correctional staff in the province’s correctional facilities is a top priority. That is why I have commissioned an independent external review of the circumstances surrounding the death of three inmates at Newfoundland and Labrador correctional centres which occurred between August 31, 2017 and May 26, 2018.

Finance
Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, and the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, will be available to the media to discuss legislation related to the legalization of non-medical cannabis in Newfoundland and Labrador. The availability will take place in St. John’s on Monday, May 28 at 12:30 p.m. in the Media Centre, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building.

Transportation and Works

For the first time in the province’s history, communities in northern Labrador will be provided with roll on, roll off ferry services that will change the way residents travel to and from their communities.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation today is taking the next step to determine how to maximize the value of the Atlantic Cable Facility (ACF). By the end of the year, the Provincial Government will develop a Request for Expressions of Interest to determine the future use of the facility.

Health and Community Services

Through an investment of more than $2.3 million, people on the Great Northern Peninsula will benefit from new equipment and upgrades at several health care facilities in the area. The announcement was made today in St. Anthony by the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services and the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation and MHA for St. Barbe – L’Anse aux Meadows.

Executive Council
Fisheries and Land Resources

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, today announced details of the province’s 2018 salmon strategy.

Executive Council
Natural Resources

Today, government took action to allow for the release of information related to independent contractors working at Nalcor. Amendments were made to the Energy Corporation Act which received second reading in the House of Assembly. The action was required as the Energy Corporation Act shielded the information from being accessible under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will announce health care funding and visit several health care facilities on the Great Northern Peninsula tomorrow (Friday, May 25).

Executive Council
Fisheries and Land Resources

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, will make an announcement related to the province’s 2018 salmon strategy tomorrow (Friday, May 25). The announcement will take place 11 a.m. at Byron’s Shoe and Tarp Repair, 60 Old Bonne Bay Road, Deer Lake.

Children, Seniors and Social Development

The Provincial Government is inviting applications for the Inclusion Grants Funding Program, which helps community organizations create more accessible and inclusive facilities and events. Budget 2018 included $75,000 for these grants.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Provincial Government is launching the second phase of consultations for community leaders and administrators to engage in modernizing the Municipalities Act, 1999, the City of St. John’s Act, the City of Mount Pearl Act and the City of Corner Brook Act.

Education and Early Childhood Development

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to recognize an important step being taken in response to the recommendations of the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes.

Children, Seniors and Social Development

Mr. Speaker, since 1954, the Vera Perlin Society has provided quality service and support for all individuals with an intellectual disability and their families in the St. John's and surrounding areas. This work enables individuals to participate in all areas of community living thereby supporting and creating an inclusive society.

Health and Community Services

Heather Brown has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority.