Government of Newfoundland News

Fisheries and Aquaculture

A provincial trade delegation led by the Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, will take part in Seafood Expo North America in Boston. The expo runs from Sunday, March 15, to Tuesday, March 17. The United States continues to be the top market for Newfoundland and Labrador’s seafood products, having accounted for 37.4 per cent of the value of the province’s total fish exports in 2014, making this expo a major event for the industry.

Environment and Conservation

The official Mistaken Point world heritage nomination dossier was made available to the public at a special ceremony held yesterday evening at the Community Centre in Portugal Cove South. During the ceremony, local resident and Mistaken Point Ambassador Inc. member, Catherine (Kit) Ward, was presented with a copy of the dossier as an acknowledgement of her long-time dedication to the protection and promotion of the Mistaken Point site.

Fisheries and Aquaculture
Health and Community Services

The Forestry and Agrifoods Agency has confirmed diagnosis of rabies in animals killed recently near Labrador City, Voisey’s Bay and Hopedale.

Executive Council
Health and Community Services

Plans to introduce kidney dialysis treatment on Fogo Island and enhanced services in the greater central region were announced today by the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. Under the plan, residents who are medically suited will be able to access dialysis treatment on Fogo Island with the option of transitioning to home-based treatment. Premier Davis was joined by the Honourable Derek Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources and MHA for the Isles of Notre Dame, and Rosemarie Goodyear, President and Chief Executive Officer of Central Health, for the announcement.

Executive Council
Transportation and Works

To celebrate Canadian men and women in uniform, both past and present, the new ferry that will service Fogo Island and Change Islands will be named the MV Veteran. The new ferry, which will arrive in fall 2015, will also celebrate the contributions of four notable women and men from Fogo Island and Change Islands. The new vessel was named today during a ceremony attended by the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador; the Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works; the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources and MHA for The Isles of Notre Dame; town officials and ferry committee members.

Service NL

Service NL is warning the public that an online platform for trading binary options, www.binaryoptionscanada.net/brokers/Newfoundland-labrador , is targeting residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to invest in binary options and is providing false and misleading information, placing potential investors at risk. None of the alleged investment brokers advertised on the website are registered to sell securities in this jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction in Canada. The individuals responsible are believed to be located overseas.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Newfoundland and Labrador seafood industry continued to make a substantial contribution to the province’s economy in 2014 with production valued at nearly $1 billion, as confirmed through statistics and information provided as part of the Seafood Industry Year in Review released today by the Provincial Government.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

A complete interior and exterior retrofit is currently underway on four social housing homes on New Pennywell Road in St. John’s. Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has awarded a $530,000 contract to Can-Am Platforms and Construction Ltd., to carry out the work.

Environment and Conservation

The Department of Environment and Conservation advises the public that a 1,200 metre section of the Newfoundland and Labrador T’Railway Provincial Park in the Codroy Pond area will be closed to all pedestrian, ATV, snowmobile and vehicular traffic from Friday, March 13, to Monday, March 23.

Natural Resources

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources, commented today on the Oversight Committee's report on the Muskrat Falls Project for the quarter ended December 2014. Through the oversight committee and other activities, the Provincial Government is tracking the budget and schedule for the Muskrat Falls Project.

Environment and Conservation

Today, the Provincial Government released the Muskrat Falls Oversight Committee's report for the quarter ended December 2014. The report is available at www.gov.nl.ca/MFoversight/pdf/report_dec_2014.pdf and includes an assessment of project costs, schedule, and risk monitoring and mitigation. In addition, it provides information by Nalcor regarding variances and identified risks in response to the committee's questions.

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.

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government is providing over $2 million for the purchase of new equipment at the Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital and the John M. Gray Centre for Seniors.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

A direct farm marketing workshop was delivered by the Provincial and Federal Governments in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Horticulture Producers Council on March 11 and 12 in St. John’s. This event provided participants with new ideas and innovative ways to grow their industry.

Education and Early Childhood Development

Kids Eat Smart is hosting the sixth Annual Rooting for Health which helps school aged children in our province recognize the relationship between farming, food and health. The events will be held in five schools across the province.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will attend two events in Fogo tomorrow (Friday, March 13).

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has awarded a $112,000 contract to Paulo Ventures Inc., to provide roofing upgrades on four semi-detached buildings containing eight social housing units in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The review of the Lands Act is progressing with the launch of public consultations. From March 19 to April 7, the Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs will consult with key stakeholders across the province, including residents, municipalities, legal representatives and developers.

Executive Council
Natural Resources

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today remembered the victims of Cougar Flight 491 that crashed off the province’s shores six years ago on March 12, 2009.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced a decrease in the size of Cabinet and changes to ministerial assignments at a swearing-in ceremony at Government House.