Government of Newfoundland News

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will address the Annual Skilled Career Day held by Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador.

Advanced Education and Skills

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, will speak at the opening of an entrepreneurial discussion hosted by Grenfell Campus tomorrow (Thursday, April 7). Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Unlocking Regional Potential promotes university, government, community and business collaboration to strengthen the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The EXCITE Corporation today announced the establishment of the Genomics-Based R&D Centre for Hearing Science in Grand Falls-Windsor. Funding of more than $1 million was announced by Barry Manuel, Mayor of the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor and Chair of the EXCITE Corporation. Mayor Manuel was joined by the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, who announced $190,000 on behalf of the Provincial Government.

Transportation and Works

Travellers are advised that the MV Beaumont Hamel is expected to begin providing ferry service to Fogo Island - Change Islands from Farewell at approximately 2:00 p.m. today (Wednesday, April 6). The vessel will first conduct a combined run to Change Islands and Fogo Island. The vessel will then follow the Winter Schedule on a load and go basis to alleviate traffic demands.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ed Ring, has released his Report A-2016-004 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

Executive Council

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, was joined by the Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister of Environment and Conservation and MHA for Lake Melville, to announce the transfer of the delivery of the Income Assistance program to the Innu Round-Table Secretariat of Labrador.

Environment and Conservation

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

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will attend a Genomics-Based Research and Development funding announcement tomorrow (Wednesday, April 6). The event will begin at 1:15 p.m. at the EXCITE Building, 32 Queensway, Grand Falls-Windsor.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Gated forest access roads in a number of areas in central Newfoundland will be closing this week to vehicle traffic until further notice. The roads will remain open to snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The closure is necessary to protect the roads from damage during the spring thaw.

Transportation and Works

Contingency air services are in place beginning tomorrow (Tuesday, April 5) for ferry users of Fogo Island and Change Islands while repairs are carried out to the MV Veteran. The service is dependent on wind and weather conditions.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

Information and Privacy Commissioner Ed Ring wishes to issue the following commentary regarding the public release of salary details of employees of public bodies in response to access to information requests:

House of Assembly

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Speaker of the House of Assembly, today announced that the House of Assembly will resume the spring sitting on Monday, April 11, at 1:30 p.m.

Health and Community Services

Daffodil Month is officially underway in Newfoundland and Labrador. The annual fundraising campaign organized by the Canadian Cancer Society helps to fund research and provide support services for those individuals and their families facing the fight against cancer.

Environment and Conservation

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is investigating a report that a large number of boreal caribou have been illegally killed in southern Labrador.

Health and Community Services
Education and Early Childhood Development

Tomorrow is World Autism Awareness Day in Newfoundland and Labrador. The day recognizes individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the ongoing support provided by families and caregivers, government and stakeholders to improve services provided to them.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ed Ring, has released his Report A-2016-003 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

Environment and Conservation

The Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC) is hosting a public hearing in the Town of Milltown-Head of Bay d'Espoir on Friday, April 8, to receive public input on proposed changes to the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Labrador Training Centre Pool in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is currently closed for maintenance. The main circulating pump has failed and a replacement has been ordered.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Atlantic Studios Co-operative will enhance capacity to service the province’s film and production industry with new and upgraded equipment that will be purchased as a result of Federal and Provincial Government investments. Investments totalling more than $178,000 were provided through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s (ACOA) Business Development Program (non-repayable) and through the Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Newfoundland and Labrador’s All-Party Committee on Northern Shrimp Allocations is encouraged by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) notice to the Northern Shrimp Advisory Committee yesterday. DFO announced it is suspending its “last in, first out” (LIFO) policy while the LIFO review is ongoing.