Government of Newfoundland News

Justice and Public Safety
Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General; the Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities; and, the Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will speak at the Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living's (NLACL) 60th anniversary conference tomorrow (Friday, April 29). The conference is being held at the Capital Hotel, 208 Kenmount Road, St. John's.

Environment and Conservation

The Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister of Environment and Conservation, will address the St. John's Board of Trade Opportunities North 2016 tomorrow (Friday, April 29).

Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to highlight the strong potential for growth in Newfoundland and Labrador's mining sector.

Service NL

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to recognize that today is National Day of Mourning.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced the introduction of new regulations governing the practice of midwifery in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in this Honourable House today to announce the introduction of new regulations that will facilitate the safe and responsible governance of midwifery in our province.

Environment and Conservation

The Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister of Environment and Conservation, reported today that 17 permits have been issued under Section 18 of the Endangered Species Act, for research activities undertaken in 2015-16.

Service NL

Service NL advises the public that the last day to have studded tires removed from vehicles has been extended to Saturday, May 14. Under the Highway Traffic Act studded tire use is normally only permitted between November 1 and April 30. The extension has been made in response to current weather conditions.

Executive Council
Service NL

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will attend a National Day of Mourning ceremony tomorrow (Thursday, April 28) in St. John's. The Premier will be joined by the Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Service NL and Minister Responsible for Workplace NL.

Transportation and Works

Mr. Speaker, our government is investing $62 million this year in the Provincial Roads Program and this past Friday, we announced the full list of projects for this year and began to issue tenders.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this Honourable House to recognize today, April 27, as Daffodil Day.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Provincial Information and Library Resources Board met on Tuesday, April 26, to discuss changes to library services. Through Budget 2016 the annualized budget for the board has been reduced by $1 million. The board voted in favour of adopting a regional library model which will see the closure of a number of libraries and a strategic reinvestment by the Provincial Government into library resources.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, will address members of the Chicken Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Egg Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador at their joint Annual General Meeting. Minister Mitchelmore will speak to delegates tomorrow (Wednesday, April 27) at 12:00 p.m. at the Delta Hotel, St. John’s.

Municipal Affairs

Mr. Speaker I rise today to inform the members of this House that the Professional Municipal Administrators held their 44th annual AGM, convention and trade show in St. John's last week, and took the opportunity to hand out a number of long service awards.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, this week, April 24 to 30, is National Immunization Awareness Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Justice and Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of two exceptional educators who were recently taken from us much too soon.

Office of the Child and Youth Advocate

I will be giving a prepared statement, after which I will be happy to take questions.

Office of the Child and Youth Advocate

Carol A. Chafe, Advocate for Children and Youth, will be holding a press conference at 11:00 a.m. today (Tuesday, April 26) to publicly release The Advocate's Report on the Status of Recommendations 2015. The press conference will take place in the boardroom at the Advocate for Children and Youth, 193 LeMarchant Road, St. John's.

Executive Council
Natural Resources

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, have appointed five members to comprise the Interim Board of Directors for Nalcor Energy. The appointments are effective 5:00 p.m. today (Friday, April 22).

Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety, will attend the launch of the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Provincial Auto Theft Network (PATNET) program for Newfoundland and Labrador. The launch takes place on Tuesday, April 26, at 8:30 a.m. at the Memorial Campus of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary headquarters at Fort Townshend in St. John’s.