Government of Newfoundland News

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will visit schools in Springdale and Kings Point tomorrow (Thursday, October 26). Minister Kirby will be joined by Brian Warr, Deputy Speaker and MHA for Baie Verte - Green Bay.

Executive Council
Fisheries and Land Resources

For the seventh consecutive year, the From this Rock Culinary Tour will incorporate local agriculture and seafood products into its menu to increase awareness of these industries. The tour will visit nine communities on October 26 with the Grand Finale in St. John’s on November 3.

Fisheries and Land Resources

Forest fire statistics for Newfoundland and Labrador indicate the number of fire starts and the area burned in 2017 is down significantly when compared to the provincial 10-year average. In 2017, there were 73 fires that burned a total of 699 hectares of forest land; well below the provincial 10-year average of 116 fires and 35,324 hectares burned.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will bring greetings to new Canadian Citizens at a Citizenship Ceremony tomorrow (Wednesday, October 25). The ceremony is being held at St. John’s City Hall, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will participate in the announcement of the Janssen and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Innovation Partnership tomorrow (Wednesday, October 25).

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, will meet with the Forum of Labour Market Ministers today (Tuesday, October 24) in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Office of the Child and Youth Advocate

OCYA is pleased to launch a translated version of its popular diversity and inclusion poster. In July, the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate launched a poster showing the colours of the Pride flag with an important message “This is a Positive Space that Welcomes and Supports Everyone.” The response to this poster has been tremendous with approximately 500 copies distributed to community organizations, government offices, schools, public agencies and businesses.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Rooms wishes to advise its visitors that the facility will be closed to the public on the evening of Wednesday, October 25, beginning at 5:00 p.m. due to a private function.

Finance

In his final report before retirement, the Auditor General today released his 2017 Report on the Audit of the Province’s Financial Statements. The report provides information and commentary on the consolidated summary financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2017, and comments on the challenges facing the provincial economy.

Office of the Auditor General

“While the deficit for 2016-17 has been reduced to almost half the deficit of the previous fiscal year, it is still not sustainable. The deficit as a percentage of GDP in Newfoundland and Labrador for 2016-17 is the highest in Canada and substantially higher than most other provinces. Even though the Province expects a surplus in 2022-23, it continues to forecast significant deficits up to that time. Furthermore, there is risk that the forecasted results may not be achieved and the Province has limited options to address this situation.” - Terry Paddon, Auditor General of Newfoundland and Labrador

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 Annual General Meeting today (Tuesday, October 24). The event will take place at the organization’s office in the Nuport Building, 44 Torbay Road, St. John's, at 6:30 p.m.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

A writ of election has been issued for the district of Mount Pearl North by Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Bruce Chaulk. The by-election will take place on Tuesday, November 21, 2017.

Finance

The Auditor General today released his annual Update Report, which provides the status of recommendations made during a previous Report to the House of Assembly.

Office of the Auditor General

Terry Paddon, Auditor General of Newfoundland and Labrador, today tabled his Update on Recommendations from the January 2014 Report to the House of Assembly. The report contains details of the implementation status of 79 recommendations made in the January 2014 Report on Reviews of Departments and Crown Agencies.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will participate in the official opening of Eastern Health’s new Nuclear and Molecular Medicine Facility and launch of Newfoundland and Labrador’s first ever positron emission tomography (PET/CT) scanner tomorrow (Tuesday, October 24).

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will speak at the Colony of Avalon Foundation’s Annual General Meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, October 24). The event takes place at the Colony of Avalon Visitors Centre, Ferryland, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will visit St. Teresa’s School library today (Monday, October 23) at 1:15 p.m. to celebrate National School Library Day. St. Teresa’s School is located at 100 Mundy Pond Road, St. John’s.

Executive Council
Fisheries and Land Resources

The Provincial Government, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture, and Food First NL jointly launched 43 actions today to double the province’s food self-sufficiency, and double the number of people directly employed in the provincial agriculture sector. The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, was joined by representatives of both organizations; Ministers of the Cabinet Committee on Jobs; as well as student, community, academic, and business leaders to announce these actions at the new Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Development in Wooddale.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Provincial Government is investing over $2.3 million for infrastructure projects in Flower’s Cove, Anchor Point, and the surrounding region. The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, was joined for the announcements on Saturday, October 21, by the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation and MHA for St. Barbe - L’Anse aux Meadows.

Service NL

The Provincial Government is amending the Buildings Accessibility Regulations and the Designated Mobility Impaired Parking Regulations to improve accessibility and equity for all persons in Newfoundland and Labrador.