Government of Newfoundland News

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, will bring greetings to the Employment Transitions program graduation ceremony and announce a new employment program tomorrow (Friday, December 16)

Municipal Affairs

Short days and long, cold nights during the holiday season mark the arrival of winter in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report A-2016-029 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

Justice and Public Safety

The Provincial Government has enacted Access to Abortion Services Regulations under the authority of the Access to Abortion Services Act, which has received Royal Assent. The act allows for the creation of safe access zones around health care facilities and the homes of health professionals and clinic owners providing abortion services in the province.

Environment and Climate Change

The Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

Municipal Affairs

Christmas lights are a common sight in Newfoundland and Labrador during the holiday season.

Executive Council

In a ceremony today at Government House, nine people were invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador – the highest honour of the province. All nine have made significant contributions and their efforts have positively impacted the lives of their fellow residents.

Executive Council

Legislation focused on supporting residents, as well as continuing to improve openness, transparency and accountability, highlighted the fall sitting of the House of Assembly.

Environment and Climate Change

In the interest of public safety, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is maintaining a closure of portions of the T’Railway Provincial Park that suffered extensive damage as a result of the severe rainfall during the Thanksgiving weekend. The portion of the T’Railway which includes a 180 kilometre section west of Badger to Gander, and an area near Port Blandford, will remain closed to users for the 2016-17 winter season.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, was at the Canadian Red Cross in St. John’s today to announce Fixed Amount and Direct Aid agreements with the Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army. These agreements outline financial supports for ensuring pre-positioned resources are available for the delivery of Emergency Social Services during disasters or emergencies.

Municipal Affairs

Legislative amendments to the Lands Act received second reading in the House of Assembly yesterday. These amendments are intended to improve access to Crown lands and the management of these assets through a variety of measures, including simplifying application processes, updating the approach to enforcement, and clarifying the extent of the shoreline reservation on Crown lands. These changes are a result of the Lands Act Review conducted in 2015.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, will announce updates to Fixed Amount and Direct Aid agreements with the Canadian Red Cross and Salvation Army to provide Emergency Social Services. The announcement will take place tomorrow (Wednesday, December 14) at 10:30 a.m. in the Disaster Management training room at the Canadian Red Cross, 17 Major’s Path, St. John’s.

Executive Council

The Honourable Frank Fagan, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador and Chancellor of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, will be joined by the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, at the investiture ceremony for the 2016 recipients of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Municipal Affairs

The crackling sound of a wood stove or fireplace is a key part of the holidays for many families in Newfoundland and Labrador. However, it’s important to enjoy these fires responsibly.

Environment and Climate Change

The Department of Environment and Climate Change wishes to advise the motoring public to exercise caution when travelling in the area between St. Anthony Airport and Eddies Cove (Route 430) on the Northern Peninsula.

Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Forestry Services Branch of my department on the continued certification of its Environmental Management System to the ISO 14001:2004 standard.

Children, Seniors and Social Development

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak to the significant piece of legislation which will be given second reading in the House this afternoon – an Act Respecting the Seniors’ Advocate.

Finance

In keeping with its commitment made in June 2016, the Provincial Government will join with other provinces in Canada in introducing a new act respecting compensation disclosure. The Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act, in combination with regulations which will be passed under the act when it becomes law, will require an annual listing of all employees in departments and a number of agencies, boards, commissions, health care bodies, educational bodies and Crown corporations who receive total compensation of more than $100,000 in a year. The act will receive second reading in the House of Assembly this week.

Executive Council
Children, Seniors and Social Development

Legislation to establish an Office of the Seniors’ Advocate will receive second reading in the House of Assembly today. Once established, the Seniors’ Advocate will collaborate with seniors, their families, caregivers, policy makers and frontline service providers to identify and address systemic issues facing seniors in the province.

House of Assembly

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Speaker of the House of Assembly, today announced the appointment of Ms. Jacqueline Lake Kavanagh as the new Child and Youth Advocate, effective December 16, 2016.