Government of Newfoundland News
Media Advisory: Premier Ball and Minister Bennett to Participate in Flag Raising for the Provincial Purple Ribbon Campaign
Executive Council
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Cathy Bennett, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, will participate in a flag raising ceremony to commence the Provincial Purple Ribbon Campaign tomorrow (Friday, November 25). The event is taking place in the East Block lobby of Confederation Building beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Ministerial Statement - Minister Recognizes Dairy Farmers for Excellence in Milk Production
Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the winners of the Daphne Taylor Milk Quality Awards of Excellence and Merit. The awards, which commemorate Ms. Taylor who passed away from cancer, were created in 1997 to recognize excellence in the production of quality milk.
Ministerial Statement - Provincial Government Highlights DBRS Credit Rating
Finance
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to highlight the fact that the Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS) confirmed the province’s credit rating at A (low). The rating confirmation is based upon the rating agency’s view that credible action is being taken by this government to address the province’s fiscal situation.
Provincial Government Announces Increases to Minimum Wage
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
Today, the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, announced increases to the minimum wage. Effective April1, 2017, the minimum wage will increase by 25 cents to $10.75 followed by an additional increase of 25 cents to $11.00 on October 1, 2017. These increases will bring the Newfoundland and Labrador minimum wage rate in line with other Atlantic provinces.
Primary Health Care Team has Success at the Gathering Place
Health and Community Services
The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, is praising the valuable work undertaken by the Downtown Health Care Collaborative – a project aimed at building primary health care teams with community partners. In St. John’s, the collaborative has partnered with groups such as the Gathering Place and Choices for Youth, to provide primary health care services to people in vulnerable circumstances.
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Report A-2016-025 Released
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report A-2016-025 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.
Media Advisory: Minister Kirby to attend NLTA Christmas Suite
Education and Early Childhood Development
The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will attend the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA) Annual Christmas Suite tomorrow (Thursday, November 24). The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Arts and Culture Centre, St. John’s.
Public Advisory: Residents Advised of Smoke Alarm Recall
Municipal Affairs
The public is advised of a Health Canada recall involving smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. This recall involves Kidde NightHawk talking combo smoke/CO alarm KN-COSM-IBCA and KN-COSM-ICA models with manufacture dates between June 1, 2004, and March 2011. The alarms are hard-wired into a home’s electric powers.
Ministerial Statement - Minister Congratulates Accomplishment of Memorial University’s Enactus Team
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Memorial University’s Enactus Team on winning the 2016 Enactus World Cup in September.
Ministerial Statement - Provincial Government Congratulates Paradise Double Ice Complex on Achieving LEED Status
Environment and Climate Change
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honorable House today to congratulate the Town of Paradise on the Paradise Double Ice Complex achieving Silver certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Media Advisory: Minister Byrne to Attend Presentation of Scholarships and Awards at Marine Institute
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, will bring greetings at the 2016 Autumn Presentation of Scholarships and Awards at the Marine Institute today (Wednesday, November 23).
Media Advisory: Premier Ball to Attend Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Awards
Executive Council
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will speak at the 2016 Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Awards this evening (Wednesday, November 23). The event will take place at the St. John’s Convention Centre, 101 New Gower Street, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Media Advisory: Minister Crocker to Attend 2016 Biennial Convention of the Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Company Ltd.
Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods
The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods, along with Lisa Dempster, MHA for Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair, will speak during the banquet of the 2016 Biennial convention of the Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Company Ltd. tomorrow (Wednesday, November 23). The event starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Northern Light Inn, L’Anse au Clair, Labrador.
Ministerial Statement - Minister Outlines Province’s Opioid Action Plan
Health and Community Services
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in this Honourable House and outline our opioid action plan.
Ministerial Statement - Government Highlights Importance of Breastfeeding
Children, Seniors and Social Development
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to highlight the importance of breastfeeding in the early months of life.
Minister Introduces New Act Respecting Procurement by Public Bodies
Service NL
In keeping with commitments set out in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, a new act respecting public bodies will undergo second reading in the House of Assembly today. The Act Respecting Procurement by Public Bodies will help modernize procurement by provincial public bodies by replacing the decades old Public Tender Act with legislation that responds to feedback from public consultations, as well as a 2008 report by Read and Associates that recommended changes.
Province Launches Business Innovation Agenda Engagement Process
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
Today, the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, launched the engagement process for the province’s new Business Innovation Agenda.
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation: Minister Gambin-Walsh Recognizes National Housing Day
Children, Seniors and Social Development
The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, is recognizing November 22 as National Housing Day. This day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the importance of affordable housing in communities nation-wide.
Funding Announced for Repairs to Dam and Spillway in Harbour Grace
Municipal Affairs
The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada are contributing more than $365,000 to rehabilitate the Bannerman Lake dam in Harbour Grace. The investment is part of both governments’ commitment to supporting economic development and creating new jobs.
Minister Joyce Introduces Amendments to Municipalities Act
Municipal Affairs
Legislative amendments to the Municipalities Act, 1999 received second reading in the House of Assembly on Monday, November 21. These amendments provide local service districts with the ability to implement civic addressing and to provide greater flexibility for municipalities to dispose of property.
