Government of Newfoundland News

Natural Resources

An Act to Amend the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Newfoundland and Labrador Act received second reading today in the House of Assembly. As a result of proposed amendments, offshore operators will now be responsible for $1 billion in clean-up costs and damages from a major spill without any proof of fault or negligence; and the "polluter-pays" principle for the offshore will be established.

Education and Early Childhood Development

Tom Hedderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Acting Minister of Education, will speak at the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA) 2015 Ceremony of Induction into the teaching profession tomorrow (Friday, May 29). The event will take place at 10:00 a.m. at Glendenning Golf Course, 120 Gabriel Road, St. John’s.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development and Minister responsible for the Research and Development Corporation (RDC), will make an announcement concerning research and development funding for helicopter simulation and training technology tomorrow (Friday, May 29). Minister King will be joined by Glenn Janes, Chief Executive Officer of RDC.

Executive Council
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will attend a dedication ceremony for two new Habitat for Humanity-Newfoundland and Labrador homes in Paradise tomorrow (Friday, May 29). The event begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Paradise Double Ice Complex, 1 Sarah Davis Drive, Paradise.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development: The Rooms Corporation

As the 100th anniversary of Beaumont Hamel approaches, The Rooms will pay homage to our brave forefathers through a permanent exhibit, developed with the Where Once They Stood We Stand Capital Campaign. This exhibit will tell our story from the First World War to Confederation.

Transportation and Works

Mr. Speaker, I stand to inform this Honourable House of a new innovative approach to road maintenance. I am pleased to announce today that through a Budget 2015 allocation of $600,000, we will purchase four asphalt recyclers to enhance our ability to make longer-lasting repairs to roads during the colder months.

Education and Early Childhood Development

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to recognize May 30 as Provincial Francophonie Day.

Service NL

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to note that next week, from June 2 to 4, the Provincial Government will carry out Roadcheck 2015. During this period, Service NL enforcement staff will engage in a road check blitz for commercial vehicles.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development: The Rooms Corporation

Newfoundland and Labrador students will have the opportunity to "walk" across Canada’s Arctic and challenge their perceptions of the North. This new educational project produced by Canadian Geographic Education and the Canadian Museum of Nature and sponsored by Subsea 7 will be on display at The Rooms this coming weekend.

Transportation and Works

The tender has been awarded or enhancements to the Fogo Island wharf to accommodate the MV Veteran, which is anticipated to arrive this fall. A contract for over $772,000 has been awarded to Bennett’s Construction & Supplies Limited of Grand Bank

Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly unanimously passed a private member’s motion today condemning and seeking the immediate reversal of last week’s Atlantic halibut quota allocation decision by federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Honourable Gail Shea. This decision ignores the established sharing arrangement for halibut quotas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and continues to erode Newfoundland and Labrador’s share.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development and Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, will announce the 2014-15 Inclusion Grants Program recipients at the Annual General Meeting of the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities Newfoundland and Labrador (COD-NL) tomorrow (Thursday, May 28). The AGM is taking place at the Fairfield Hotel on Kenmount Road in St. John's, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Kevin Parsons, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will speak at the 24th Annual St. John’s Tourism Awards Ceremony tomorrow (Thursday, May 28) at 3:00 p.m. The event will take place at St. John’s City Hall.

Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to highlight the first major delivery of nickel concentrate from Vale’s operations in Labrador to Long Harbour. This is a significant milestone for Vale and their operations in Long Harbour.

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to celebrate the success of an organization which has been helping people move forward in the areas of residential and non-residential counselling services, employment services and supportive housing for 70 years.

Executive Council
Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Recreational facilities are important hubs for communities and regions, and offer great opportunities for the health and well-being of residents. Today, the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, joined with the Town Council of Harbour Grace to sign a contract for the construction of the Harbour Grace multi-purpose facility.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development: The Rooms Corporation

Media are invited to join a Grade 5 class to “walk” across Canada’s Arctic with the unveiling of a new gym-sized Arctic floor map. The giant Arctic floor map and its curriculum-based educational activities, developed by Canadian Geographic in partnership with the Canadian Museum of Nature, will be available to schools across Newfoundland and Labrador starting in September 2015 thanks to the financial support of Subsea 7.

Transportation and Works

Dust suppression work on some of the province’s gravel roads will get underway over the next few weeks with the awarding of a tender valued at over $840,000 to Sel Warwick Inc.

Executive Council
Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Acting Minister of Education, joined Newfoundland and Labrador English School Board officials, students, staff and community representatives today to celebrate the official opening of Carbonear Academy, a $22 million K-8 school in the Conception Bay North community.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador will be attending two events in Carbonear and Harbour Grace tomorrow (Wednesday, May 27).