Government of Newfoundland News

Executive Council
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will participate in the Northern Lights Conference tomorrow (Friday, January 29). The conference is taking place from January 27 to 30, at the Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa.

Executive Council

Today, on Data Privacy Day, the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement, is encouraging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to think about what they can do to better protect themselves online.

Finance

The 2014-15 Public Accounts, the audited financial statements of the province for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, released today confirm that the deficit for the 2014-15 fiscal year was $986.3 million. This is an increase of $448.4 million from the original forecast which is primarily the result of lower than anticipated revenues during the year.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Today, with the official opening of a new waste transfer station in Clarenville, the Provincial Government is moving closer to its Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy goals of reducing the amount of waste and number of waste sites in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Transportation and Works

The MV Apollo will return to the Strait of Belle Isle ferry service between St. Barbe and Blanc Sablon on Monday, February 1. The vessel will follow the regular winter schedule with the first trip departing Blanc Sablon.

Transportation and Works
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

A ceremony was held today involving representatives of the provincial and federal governments and the St. John’s International Airport Authority to officially mark the conclusion of the Airfield Accessibility and Safety Initiative. The initiative includes the completion of a new runway extension and implementation of a category III instrument landing system in St. John’s.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

Data Privacy Day 2016 has arrived! The Office of Information and Privacy Commissioner has been busy promoting privacy in this Province.

Executive Council

The Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister of Environment and Conservation and Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, will attend a meeting of the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Environment and Climate Change this week. The meeting is taking place in Ottawa, January 28-29.

Natural Resources

Residents are cautioned following reported sightings of polar bears tracks near the community of Titling, on the eastern end of Fogo Island.

Natural Resources

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, will participate in an announcement tomorrow (Thursday, January 28) regarding the completion of the St. John’s International Airport’s new landing system and safety initiative. The news conference begins at 10:30 a.m. at the administration office boardroom, third floor, Airport Terminal Building.

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government is joining individuals and organizations across Canada in recognizing Bell Let’s Talk Day.

Transportation and Works

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works, will attend a meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety tomorrow (Thursday, January 28) at the Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent Street, Ottawa.

Executive Council
Finance

The Office of Public Engagement advises residents that the public engagement session taking place today at Roncalli Elementary in St. John’s for the Government Renewal Initiative is at full capacity.

Education and Early Childhood Development
Advanced Education and Skills

The Provincial Government is celebrating National Family Literacy Day today to help raise awareness about the importance of families participating in literacy-related activities.

Transportation and Works

As the result of damage caused by an accident, a new posted load limit of 10 tonnes is in place for the bridge spanning the Exploits River behind the former paper mill property in Grand Falls-Windsor. For safety reasons, heavy loads are restricted until the bridge is repaired.

Transportation and Works

Motorists are advised that the speed limit on the Trans-Canada Highway - Route 1 over and near the Sir Robert Bond Bridge near the Town of Bishop’s Falls is reduced to 30 km/hr. The speed reduction is necessary for the safety of individuals and equipment currently working on the site of the new bridge and will be enforced until further notice.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Colin Holloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will speak at the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, January 27) at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Hotel Gander.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, will represent the Provincial Government at the launch of “The Front Step” a program designed to provide supports to chronically or episodically homeless individuals so that they can obtain, and maintain, housing stability. The Provincial Government is a partner in the program, which is led by End Homelessness St. John’s.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will be visiting two schools tomorrow (Wednesday, January 27) for National Family Literacy Day.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Three Newfoundland and Labrador companies will receive a total investment of $750,000 from Venture Newfoundland and Labrador, a venture capital fund established by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and managed by Pelorus Venture Capital Ltd. The fund is designed to provide greater access to capital for innovative entrepreneurs with high-growth potential start-ups.