Government of Newfoundland News

Executive Council

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, will take part in the Multicultural Women’s Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador’s (MWONL) Christmas party today (Wednesday, November 29). The event will take place at St. David’s Presbyterian Church, 98 Elizabeth Ave., St. John’s, 6:00 p.m.

Natural Resources

Today, the province is celebrating first oil at the Hebron platform, located 350 kilometres offshore Newfoundland in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin. The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, congratulated ExxonMobil Canada and co-venturers Chevron Canada Limited, Suncor Energy Inc., Statoil Canada Ltd., and Nalcor Energy - Oil and Gas Inc. on the tremendous milestone achieved.

Fisheries and Land Resources

Twelve additional Agriculture Areas of Interest, totalling approximately 8,400 hectares, are now available in several areas of the province for agriculture development. Additional properties will be available in December.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will attend the 2017 Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA) Annual Christmas Suite tonight (Tuesday, November 28). The concert takes place at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today expressed his appreciation that Labrador has been named to National Geographic Traveler magazine’s Best of the World list, which highlights 21 must-see destinations to visit in 2018.

Fisheries and Land Resources

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, will address the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation Conference, Cod - Building the Fishery of the Future, today (Tuesday, November 28), 6:30 p.m. at the Quality Hotel and Suites in Gander.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, has received the report of the independent mediator John Roil, QC, who was appointed on October 27 to help facilitate a resolution to the labour dispute between DJ Composites and Unifor Local 597. The report is being reviewed and has been provided to both parties with the intent to make it available to the public once they have had an opportunity to review.

Executive Council

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, today participated in a flag rising ceremony and proclamation signing at Confederation Building to mark the start of the 2017 Purple Ribbon Campaign. Joined by community leaders and those involved in violence prevention, the Purple Ribbon Flag is raised to help create public awareness and positively change social attitudes and behaviours about violence against women in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Executive Council
Transportation and Works
Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government today announced that 60-bed long-term care homes will be built in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor, as well as a 20-bed expansion of the protective care unit in Botwood. Construction for all three projects will begin in 2019, meeting demand for long-term care and making better use of acute care beds in the central region.

Health and Community Services

On Monday, November 27, three Provincial Government health care announcements will take place in the central region.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

On Friday, November 24, 2017, under the authority of Section 153(1) of the Elections Act, 1991, the Official Addition of the Votes was conducted in the district of Mount Pearl North.

Executive Council

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, will launch the annual Purple Ribbon Campaign by raising the purple ribbon flag on Monday, November 27, at 1:00 p.m. The event will take place in the lobby of East Block, Confederation Building.

Education and Early Childhood Development

A ceremony was held today to mark the official opening of CBS Elementary, a K-7 school located in Conception Bay South. The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, was joined by Tony Stack CEO/Director of Education for the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, school administration and members of the community.

Natural Resources
Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Justice Richard D. LeBlanc has commenced work as Commissioner for the Inquiry Respecting the Muskrat Falls Project Order. Over the coming weeks, the inquiry will be establishing itself and planning for the work ahead. The public will be kept updated on the progress of the inquiry, but for now, it would be premature for Justice LeBlanc to give media interviews.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will attend the inaugural meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial ministers under the new Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). The meetings take place on November 23 and 24 in Dieppe, New Brunswick.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will attend the official opening of CBS Elementary school tomorrow (Friday, November 24), at 11:00 a.m. The CBS Elementary school is located at 835 Conception Bay Highway, Conception Bay South.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to highlight the strides being made through our three-year municipal infrastructure program to build safe and sustainable communities.

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to highlight that the Purple Ribbon flag will once again be raised at Confederation Building this coming Monday, November 27, at 1:00 p.m. This is to mark the beginning of the annual Purple Ribbon campaign to increase awareness and responsiveness to violence against women. The flag will remain in place until December 10, coinciding with the International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Executive Council

“On Friday, November 24, I will attend Prime Minister Trudeau’s apology ceremony involving former students of the Newfoundland and Labrador residential school system in Happy Valley – Goose Bay.

Executive Council
Finance
Justice and Public Safety
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador provided the first details today on how cannabis legalization will look in the province in July 2018, the timeframe the Federal Government has set for implementation.