Government of Newfoundland News
Provincial Government Announces Minimum Wage Increase and Outlines New Model to Calculate Minimum Wage
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, today announced an increase to the minimum wage of 15 cents bringing the rate to $11.15 effective April 1, 2018. The minimum overtime rate will increase to $16.73, 1.5 times the minimum wage rate. The increase, and future increases to take effect April 1 of each year, will be based on the percentage change in the National Consumer Price Index.
Enhancing Sea Safety with Innovative Solutions
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
In the most recent tour of technology companies by representatives of the Provincial Government, the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, as well as Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, visited Virtual Marine today to view the progress of its new Ice Management Simulator. The simulator is designed specifically to target the needs of the coast guard, and defence industry. Virtual Marine also demonstrated its lifeboat simulator, which is used in the offshore oil and gas industry globally for coxswain training.
Amendments Will Increase Income Replacement Rate for Injured Workers in Province
Service NL
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced today that amendments to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act will be introduced in the House of Assembly during the upcoming session, enhancing benefits available to injured workers and their families. If the amendments are passed, the income replacement rate (IRR) for injured workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, or their dependents, will increase from 80 to 85 per cent. The IRR is the percentage of a worker’s pre-injury net income that is covered by the workers’ compensation system.
Planning Begins for Remediation Work in Humber Canal
Municipal Affairs and Environment
The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment is working with the Town of Deer Lake and the Town of Reidville regarding plans for the safe removal of debris in the Humber Canal.
Media Advisory: Minister Kirby to Visit Fogo Island Central Academy
Education and Early Childhood Development
The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will be visiting Fogo Island Central Academy, tomorrow (Tuesday, February 20) at 2:00 p.m. Minister Kirby will be joined by Derrick Bragg, MHA for Fogo Island - Cape Freels.
Media Advisory: Minister Mitchelmore to Tour Virtual Marine
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, as well as Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will tour Virtual Marine tomorrow (Tuesday, February 20). The tour takes place at 20 Hallett Crescent, Suite 100, St. John's, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Media Advisory: Opening of House of Assembly
House of Assembly
The Honourable Perry Trimper, Speaker of the House of Assembly, advises that the House of Assembly will open for the Winter-Spring sitting at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 26.
Media Advisory: Minister Gambin-Walsh to Announce Change to Benefits for Injured Workers and Launch New Joint Injury Prevention Strategy
Service NL
The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Service NL and Minister responsible for Workplace NL, will announce a change to benefits for injured workers.
Media Advisory: Minister Hawkins to Announce Changes to Minimum Wage
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, will announce changes regarding minimum wage tomorrow (Tuesday, February 20) at 1:00 p.m. The announcement will take place in the Media Centre, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building.
Media Advisory: Premier Ball to attend Atlantic Growth Strategy Meeting
Executive Council
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will attend a meeting on the Atlantic Growth Strategy tomorrow (February 20) in Riverview, New Brunswick.
Public Advisory: MV Veteran Returns to Service
Transportation and Works
The MV Veteran has returned to service Fogo Island – Change Islands – Farewell.
Provincial Government Releases Advance 2030 – A Plan for Growth in the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industry
Executive Council
Natural Resources
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, were joined by members of the Oil and Gas Industry Development Council today to release Advance 2030.
Media Advisory: Minister Mitchelmore to bring National Heritage Day Greetings
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will bring greetings at a National Heritage Day ceremony on Monday, February 19. The event takes place at YellowBelly Brewery, 288 Water Street, St. John's, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Media Advisory: Premier Ball and Minister Coady to Launch Plan for Growth in the Oil and Gas Industry
Executive Council
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, will launch a plan for growth in the oil and gas industry at a symposium being held at The Rooms, third floor atrium, 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 19.
Provincial Government Marks Lunar New Year
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, is offering best wishes to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians celebrating Lunar New Year.
Media Advisory: Premier Ball to Bring Greetings at Corner Brook Winter Carnival Opening Ceremonies
Executive Council
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will bring greetings at the opening of the Corner Brook Winter Carnival tomorrow (Friday, February 16). The opening ceremonies take place at Margaret Bowater Park, Corner Brook, at 7:00 p.m.
Water Level Monitoring Enhanced on the Churchill River
Municipal Affairs and Environment
The Provincial Government is enhancing community partnership and water level monitoring on the lower Churchill River by installing new monitoring stations and initiating a Community River Watch Program. These enhancements build on the guidance provided in the report from the independent assessment of the flooding at Mud Lake in May 2017.
Environmental Assessment Bulletin
Municipal Affairs and Environment
The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.
Successful Proposal Highlights Newfoundland and Labrador’s Internationally-Recognized Innovative Capabilities
Executive Council
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, is congratulating the province’s world class business and academic institutions that played an integral role in the Atlantic Oceans Supercluster’s successful proposal under the Federal Government’s Innovation Superclusters Initiative. The announcement was made today in Ottawa by the Federal Government.
Provincial Government Develops Online Training for Apprentices
Executive Council
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, joined the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, today to announce an online training initiative pilot for apprentices that will enable them to stay in their home communities and work while participating in required block training.
