Government of Newfoundland News

Justice and Public Safety
Executive Council
Children, Seniors and Social Development

The inaugural meeting of the Minister’s Committee on Violence Against Women and Girls was held today to connect community groups, representatives from Indigenous governments and organizations, those with lived experience and government members to identify possible solutions to end gender-based violence. The goal of the event, themed “Collaborating for Collective Action: Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls,” was to share information, exchange ideas, and come up with action plans to end gender-based violence in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will participate in the official naming of the long-term care home in Carbonear on Monday, December 11, at 11:30 a.m. The event will take place in the multi-purpose room at the long-term care home, 3-6 Earles Lane. The home is adjacent to the Carbonear General Hospital.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Today, the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation announced $428,500 that will enhance marine incident prevention and responsiveness from coast to coast to coast. Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Carr, Federal Minister of Natural Resources, announced an investment of $1.39 million for two projects.

Health and Community Services

Recognized experts gathered in St. John’s yesterday to share knowledge about renewing mental health and addictions care in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to transforming the mental health and addictions care system in this province as outlined in Towards Recovery. This vision is built on the principles of a stepped care approach. The value of such an approach is that it increases access to services by matching people to the appropriate level of care.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association Inc. (NLOA) will use marketing and research to promote the provincial outfitting sector and build on previous initiatives designed to expand the outfitting sector within the provincial tourism industry. The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada are investing a total of $553,183 to support this marketing and research initiative.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

Day 2 of the 12 Days of Fire Safety is focused on seniors. According to the National Fire Protection Association, seniors are particularly at risk when a home fire occurs.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The report of the independent mediator, John Roil, QC, on the labour dispute between DJ Composites and Unifor Local 597 can be viewed online at www.aesl.gov.nl.ca/labour/union

Justice and Public Safety

The legislation brought forward in the fall session of the House of Assembly supports the health and safety of the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, strengthens transparency and accountability, and also encourages business development in the province.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Provincial Government today announced it has entered into an agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation for the supply and production of cannabis in the province.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will make an announcement related to cannabis tomorrow (Friday, December 8).

Natural Resources

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will announce funding for a Marine Environment project tomorrow (Friday, December 8). The event takes place at C-CORE, Morrissey Road, St. John’s, beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Justice and Public Safety

During a ceremony today at Government House in St. John's, the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission presented the 2017 Human Rights Award to Susan Rose.

Executive Council
Justice and Public Safety
Children, Seniors and Social Development

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, and the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, will offer opening remarks at a meeting of the Minister’s Committee on Violence Against Women and Girls tomorrow (Friday, December 8) at 9:00 a.m. They will be joined by Linda Ross, co-chair of the Minister’s Committee on Violence Against Women and Girls and President of the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Finance

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to announce the start of pre-budget consultations for Budget 2018. This is the earliest these consultations have commenced over the past decade.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to welcome Ciara O’Connor, Dr. Judit Lovas and Jeremiah Stafford to our province. They are among the newest immigrants to Newfoundland and Labrador and come to us through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program launched in March of this year.

Transportation and Works

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this Honourable House to invite the public to join us for the 31st annual Christmas Lights Across Canada ceremony happening this evening on Confederation Hill.

Finance

The Provincial Government is today releasing its multi-phased approach to pre-budget consultations, beginning in December 2017 and continuing until February 2018. The public will have multiple opportunities to share their feedback on the budget process in advance of Budget 2018.

Fisheries and Land Resources

Katie Spurrell, a Grade 5 student at Riverside Elementary in Clarenville, is the provincial winner of the 2017 National Forest Week Poster Contest. She received her award this morning from Derrick Bragg, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Land Resources. As the provincial winner, Ms. Spurrell’s poster will be permanently displayed at Forestry and Wildlife Headquarters. She receives a framed copy of the poster and also wins an Apple iPad and a Smokey the Bear Fun Pack.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment is marking the days leading up to the holiday season by providing seasonal fire safety tips during the 12 Days of Fire Safety. Every weekday until Christmas Eve, the department will describe steps that we can all take to protect our families and our homes from emergency situations.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report A-2017-027 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.