Government of Newfoundland News

Advanced Education and Skills
Natural Resources

Officials with the Department of Advanced Education and Skills have met with Teck Resources to offer employment supports and services for approximately 320 employees affected by the closure of the company’s Duck Pond mine in Millertown, which took effect June 30, 2015.

Health and Community Services
Transportation and Works

With ever increasing demands on long-term care, the Provincial Government recognizes the importance of expanding the availability of facilities to meet the needs of residents. To provide a long-term and sustainable solution to meet these demands, a request for proposals has been issued this week to engage private and non-profit providers for the provision of long-term care services in the western and central regions and on the Northeast Avalon. This process signals that the Provincial Government is moving forward with a plan to secure a total of 360 new long-term care beds on the island portion of the province.

Environment and Conservation

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

Transportation and Works
Executive Council

The Provincial Government, in cooperation with the Royal Canadian Legion, announced yesterday at a Memorial Day ceremony in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, that the bridge spanning the Churchill River has been named the Veterans Memorial Bridge. The name is in honour of Labradorians who served in wars and major conflicts both past and present.

Service NL

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Service NL, has proclaimed July as Automotive Heritage Month in Newfoundland and Labrador together with the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada (NAACC).

Education and Early Childhood Development
Transportation and Works

Recognizing the growth and need to address capacity for students in Mount Pearl and the surrounding region, a tender has been issued for the extension and renovation of St. Peter’s Junior High.

Health and Community Services

Residents of the province will benefit from enhancements to the HealthLine, a service that provides confidential and free health information and advice via a telephone line staffed by experienced registered nurses. The enhancements are designed to promote increased usage and awareness of HealthLine services and include a new telephone number (811), an app, an updated website and marketing materials.

Executive Council
Advanced Education and Skills

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador signed an Atlantic Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Apprenticeship Mobility this past weekend during the Council of Atlantic Premiers’ meeting in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. This agreement is one of the first steps in implementing the recently released Live Here, Work Here, Belong Here, A Population Growth Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador, 2015-2025.

Education and Early Childhood Development
Transportation and Works

A tender has been issued for the construction of a new Grade 4-6 school in Gander that will add additional capacity to address student enrollment in the community. The school will be designed to accommodate 450 students and is expected to open in 2017.

Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Felix Collins, Attorney General, will attend the Beaumont Hamel 99th commemoration ceremony in Ottawa tomorrow (Wednesday, July 1). The event begins at 8:30 a.m. EST at the National War Memorial, Elgin Street. Minister Collins will be laying a wreath on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Justice and Public Safety

Recent tips from the public about the illegal netting and selling of wild Atlantic salmon on the Baie Verte Peninsula have resulted in two males facing charges under the Federal Fisheries Act.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, will announce enhancements to the HealthLine on Thursday, July 2. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Park Place Community Centre, 61 Park Avenue, Mount Pearl.

Transportation and Works

A tender valued at just over $359,000 for upgrades to the ferry terminal wharf at Rencontre East has been awarded to Coady Construction & Excavating Limited.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

As Seniors Month draws to an end, the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, today announced the recipients of the 2015 Seniors of Distinction Awards. The annual awards are presented to individuals in recognition of their significant achievements and the contributions they have made to their communities, regions and the province as a whole.

Justice and Public Safety

Fire and Emergency Services – Newfoundland and Labrador (FES-NL) is reminding residents to be responsible when lighting or handling fireworks during Canada Day celebrations.

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government is recognizing June 30 as Arthrogryposis Awareness Day to promote greater understanding of the condition and those affected by it.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is supporting the Greater Lamaline Area Multi-Purpose Trail Association in its efforts to complete an ATV trail extension connecting Point May to the Lamaline-Fortune trail. The 8.5 kilometre extension will enable users access to Point May and serves as an overall enhancement to the Burin Peninsula Trail system.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will join a delegation from Newfoundland and Labrador including veterans, Royal Canadian Legion members and students to attend a ceremony at Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont-Hamel in France tomorrow (Wednesday, July 1). The ceremony which will commemorate the beginning of the Battle of the Somme is part of a week-long pilgrimage to First World War commemoration sites in Belgium and France.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Continuing its commitment to supporting tourism, culture and economic diversification, the Provincial Government is providing funding to the Grand Bank Heritage Society to complete the final stage of the Mariner’s Memorial project repairs to George C. Harris House.

Environment and Conservation

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, will speak on behalf of the Provincial Government at a vigil hosted by the Community Coalition for Mental Health today (Monday, June 29). The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Bowring Park Amphitheatre in St. John’s.