Government of Newfoundland News

Executive Council
Transportation and Works
Fisheries and Aquaculture

The newest addition to the province's water bomber fleet has been successfully delivered to Newfoundland and Labrador and will be stationed permanently in Gander. The Bombardier CL-415 water bomber, supported by a $17.7 million investment for the final payment in Budget 2015, completes the Provincial Government's fleet renewal valued overall at $150 million.

Health and Community Services

As part of ongoing efforts to increase access to early intervention services for mental health and addictions, the Provincial Government has expanded Bridge the gAPP, a free mobile app that offers guidance and supports to residents throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, will announce enhancements to the Bridge the gAPP program tomorrow (Friday, October 2) at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium in St. John's. The event will take place at 10:30 a.m.

Transportation and Works

The Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works, will get a first-hand look at the newest addition to the provincial water bomber fleet tomorrow (Friday, October 2) at 10:30 a.m. The minister will be joined by Clayton Forsey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency.

Executive Council
Natural Resources

Today, the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced that the in-place oil and gas resource potential is 12 billion barrels of oil and 113 trillion cubic feet of gas for the area covering the 11 parcels currently on offer in the Flemish Pass. These parcels are up for bid in the first ever scheduled licence round closing in November 2015.

Justice and Public Safety

Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador encourages residents of the Northern Peninsula, West Coast, and the Labrador Straits to be mindful of potential flooding or washouts as rainfall, at times heavy, is forecast for the region this evening.

Executive Council
Environment and Conservation

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) completed its field visit to Mistaken Point yesterday, bringing to a close one of the final steps in the nomination process for the ecological reserve to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Joining Dr. Mohd Shafeea Leman, from the IUCN on the field mission team were representatives from Parks Canada, the Department of Environment and Conservation, and world-renowned paleontologist Dr. Guy Narbonne.

Executive Council
Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

Five Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were officially honoured today during a ceremony to recognize their designation as the 2015 Seniors of Distinction Award recipients. The awards were presented by the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and coincided with events marking National Seniors Day and the International Day of Older Persons.

Environment and Conservation

The Department of Environment and Conservation is inviting individuals to register for the Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop October 16-18 at the Lavrock Camp Conference Centre at Burry Heights on Salmonier Line. The program this fall will offer women in Newfoundland and Labrador the opportunity to gain valuable outdoor skills such as hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking and nature photography.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, will speak at the opening concert of the International Symposium on Singing and Song tonight (Thursday, October 1) at 8:00 p.m. The event will take place at Memorial University's School of Music in the D.F. Cook Recital Hall.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, has sent letters to the four federal party leaders seeking their position on issues of importance to the people of the province.

Health and Community Services
Executive Council

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has reached a tentative agreement on insured fees, salaries and benefits with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will provide an update regarding a recent assessment of the province’s offshore resources tomorrow (Thursday, October 1). The event will take place at the Johnson GEO CENTRE in the Main Reception Hall, beginning at 2:00 p.m. The Premier will be joined by the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources; Ed Martin, President and CEO, Nalcor; and Pierre-Yves Chenet, Chief Technical Officer, Beicip Franlab.

Executive Council
Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will present the seventh annual Seniors of Distinction Awards tomorrow (Thursday, October 1) at the Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre, Conception Bay South, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Education and Early Childhood Development

Focus group sessions to gain insight on high school graduation requirements begin tomorrow at Clarenville High School for invited students, staff and parents. These sessions will take place in 14 schools throughout the province from October 1 to October 22. A complete schedule of sessions is included in the backgrounder below.

Advanced Education and Skills

The Provincial Government supported the creation of 2,566 student summer jobs this past summer through an investment of $5.3 million. These jobs were created in cooperation with employers across the province through the two summer employment programs delivered by the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, and through funding provided to Memorial University, Marine Institute, College of the North Atlantic, Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador, and Women in Science and Engineering in support of summer student employment initiatives.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs
Labour Relations Agency

Effective tomorrow (Thursday, October 1), the provincial minimum wage will increase by 25 cents to $10.50 per hour.

Executive Council

In recognition of their outstanding contributions to the province, nine individuals were invested today into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Frank F. Fagan, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, presided over the ceremony, together with the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
Executive Council

As part of the celebrations for Right to Know (RTK) Week (September 28 - October 2), the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) and the Office of Public Engagement are launching the 5th RTK Week Essay Competition, along with co-sponsors Memorial University of Newfoundland, College of the North Atlantic, and the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
Health and Community Services

The first-ever American Sign Language (ASL) Consultation on Wellness, hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of the Deaf, was held this past weekend (September 26-27) in St. John's, with delegates from throughout the province discussing ways to improve access to primary health care and community supports for people whose first language is ASL. The Provincial Government, through the Department of Seniors Wellness and Social Development, provided $40,000 to support the event.