Government of Newfoundland News

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today congratulated PAL Aerospace on its partnership with Airbus to engage with the Federal Government in a contract for search and rescue support services. As announced by the Government of Canada today, Airbus Defence and Space has been awarded a $2.4 billion contract to replace Canada’s fleet of search and rescue aircraft. Airbus has partnered with PAL Aerospace for maintenance and support services.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend all members of this House for unanimously passing Bill 53, an Act to Amend the Labour Standards Act, to increase Compassionate Care Leave provisions from eight to 28 weeks.

Transportation and Works

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in this Honourable House to mark the launch of the 30th annual Christmas Lights Across Canada.

Finance

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize and congratulate PAL Airlines on receiving three awards yesterday at the St. John's Board of Trade 2016 Business Excellence Awards. The company received the Community Impact Award for 20 or more employees, the Customer Service and Reliability Award and the prestigious Business Excellence Award. Mr. Speaker, the Business Excellence Award is the most prestigious award presented by the St. John’s Board of Trade. The winner of this award recognizes innovation, creativity, sales growth and a passion for success.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will attend a meeting of Canada's Premiers tomorrow (Friday, December 9). Meetings will take place at the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel, 1 Rideau Street, Ottawa.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced new legislation that will allow young people who severely and persistently abuse drugs to receive treatment when they lack the capacity for informed consent. Bill 55, An Act Respecting Secure Withdrawal Management for Young Persons, allows for the apprehension, detainment, assessment, stabilization and treatment of young people who meet the criteria outlined in legislation.

Transportation and Works

Members of the media are advised that the 30th annual Christmas Lights Across Canada celebration will take place this evening, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Confederation Building, East Block.

Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, will address the annual Human Rights Awards ceremony being held tomorrow (Thursday, December 8). The event begins at 3:15 p.m. with the award being presented at 3:30 p.m. at Government House in St. John’s.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will hold a news conference tomorrow (Thursday, December 8) to provide details on Bill 55, An Act Respecting Secure Withdrawal Management for Young Persons.

Service NL

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in this Honourable House to recognize December 1 to 7 as National Safe Driving Week. This year’s theme - Icy and Dicey: Avoid Unnecessary Risks - is especially appropriate as we head into the winter driving season.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this Honourable House today to recognize the work of the Gathering Place, and in particular, the work of their Parish Nurses. These are volunteer nurses helping to meet the needs of those accessing health care services from the new Downtown Health Care Collaborative Clinic, an inter-disciplinary health care team located at the Gathering Place in St. John's.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Provincial Government recently held a series of roundtable discussions across the province to help inform priorities and commitments regarding actions to enhance immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador. Today’s release, Planning for the Future: Consultations to Help Develop a New Provincial Immigration Action Plan, outlines the feedback gathered through this engagement process.

Executive Council
Service NL

A new Regulatory Accountability and Reporting Act received second reading yesterday in the House of Assembly. This new legislation will support collaboration with the other Atlantic Provinces aimed at harmonizing regulatory requirements for businesses, reducing red tape, and making it easier for companies to conduct business across the borders of Atlantic Canadian provinces.

Justice and Public Safety

The Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission will present the annual Human Rights Awards at a ceremony being held tomorrow (Thursday, December 8). The event begins at 3:15 p.m. with the award being presented at 3:30 p.m. at Government House in St. John's.

Justice and Public Safety

Today, the Human Rights Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador announced nominees for the 2016 Human Rights Awards. The annual awards recognize individuals who have made and/or continue to make meaningful contributions to advancing and furthering human rights in the province.

Environment and Climate Change

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this Honorable House today and share that earlier this year, the coastline of Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This is the first provincially-managed World Heritage Site in Newfoundland and Labrador and the fourth ‘jewel’ in our crown of UNESCO Sites in our province.

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On December 6, 1989, a gunman shot and killed 14 young women at Ecole Polytechnique, because he believed they were feminists. This remains one of the worst incidents of mass murder in Canadian history.

Executive Council

Today, the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced that Charles Bown will spearhead the development of the Major Projects and Initiatives Unit of Executive Council. The unit will oversee the progress of major government initiatives that have fiscal and economic development implications for the province. Mr. Bown, a former Deputy Minister with the Department of Natural Resources, has accepted the role of Chief Executive with Cabinet Secretariat.

Executive Council
Natural Resources

Today, the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, together with the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, announced that Gordon McIntosh has been appointed to the role of Deputy Minister with the Department of Natural Resources.

Service NL

Awareness plays an important role in consumer protection and all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are encouraged to arm themselves with information when completing their holiday shopping or contributing to charities.