Government of Newfoundland News

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

One of the many well-received initiatives of the recently-established Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, has been the release of Easy, Tasty…Nutritious, Healthy Eating for Healthy Aging, a guide for seniors that provides information to encourage healthy eating – from planning to putting meals on the table.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is awaiting responses from Newfoundland and Labrador's MPs and Senators on their positions regarding the federal commitment to a fisheries investment fund.

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.

Finance

The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, will be the guest speaker at the regular meeting of the Clarenville Rotary Club, Monday, January 5. The meeting will take place at the Clarenville Inn, 134 Trans Canada Highway, beginning at 12:15 p.m.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

Twenty-seven Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation properties in Nain have received new home fuel tanks as the result of a $170,000 contract awarded to Budgell's Equipment and Rentals Ltd.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Co-operatives are incredibly valuable in driving business and economic activity throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. 2014 proved to be another year of positive growth for co-operatives as they delivered key services in communities and regions throughout the province with assistance from the Provincial Government to support sector growth and advance regional development.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Seafood trade delegations supported by the Provincial Government are helping local processors expand into new markets. As an example, participation in trade shows has helped increase provincial seafood sales to markets in Southeast Asia by more than 250 per cent - from $19 million in 2006 to $67 million in 2013.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

Health and Community Services

Advancing mental health and addictions continues to be a key focus for the Provincial Government. In 2015, increased emphasis will be placed on this area as a new comprehensive mental health and addictions strategy is developed. The strategy will be a guiding document, developed in consultation with key stakeholders and the general public that will shape a new plan to enhance mental health and addictions services for all residents.

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.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Education and Early Childhood Development

Executive Council

The economic and social well-being of Labradorians remained a focus of the Provincial Government throughout 2014 as it advanced major infrastructure initiatives relating to transportation, healthcare, education and municipal infrastructure. By the end of the current fiscal year, the Provincial Government will have invested a total of $4.9 billion in Labrador through the Northern Strategic Plan and other Labrador investments since 2004.

Child, Youth and Family Services

Throughout 2014, the Provincial Government continued to deliver on its commitment to create a culture of accountability, excellence and consistency across all Child, Youth and Family Services programs and regions. Significant progress was made in the delivery of the Continuum of Care Strategy, improved supports in Labrador and adoptions.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

Transportation and Works

This year marked a busy and successful time for improvements to provincial transportation infrastructure with the rehabilitation of roads and highways and the replacement of bridges. These positive initiatives were supported by the early release of major tenders and the largest ever investment in road work through Budget 2014.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Local government leaders and town staff are the backbone of communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. In order to have prosperous communities, it takes many individuals, many of whom volunteer countless hours to make their communities better places to live, work and do business.

Advanced Education and Skills

The accomplishments and continued efforts to enhance immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador are highlighted today through the release of the 2014 Immigration Update. Prior to 2007, an average of 450 immigrants came to the Newfoundland and Labrador annually. Since then, annual immigration has been increasing and in 2013, 825 immigrants arrived in the province, the highest ever annual total.

Executive Council

Their Honours, the Honourable Frank Fagan, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Patricia Fagan, will host the traditional New Year’s Levee on January 1, 2015, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Government House. This event is open to the general public.

Natural Resources

Newfoundland and Labrador has witnessed a multitude of strategic developments that will contribute to the future growth of the oil and gas sector and the provincial economy, including the discovery of oil at Bay du Nord and the new scheduled land tenure system. The year concluded with the success of the Calls for Bids which resulted in a $559 million commitment to exploration in the Flemish Pass Basin and an increase in reserves for the Hibernia field to an estimated 1,644 million barrels of oil.