Government of Newfoundland News

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, will address the Building Healthy Communities - Collaboration in Action workshop tomorrow (Friday, December 12) at the Junior Common Room, R. Gushue Hall, Memorial University, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Environment and Conservation

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Honourable House about the accomplishments being achieved through the Newfoundland and Labrador Green Fund. This fund has played a large part in supporting energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and climate change projects in our province.

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to rise in this Honourable House to provide an update on the Open Government Initiative.

Natural Resources

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced that Navigant Consulting Limited’s final report on net metering has now been released. The report is available on the Provincial Government’s website.

Executive Council
Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced new legislation aimed at locating and protecting missing persons in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Missing Persons Act will receive second reading in the House of Assembly today and is intended to provide the police with the tools necessary to move more quickly and efficiently on those investigations where it is known that a person is missing but there is an absence of evidence that a criminal wrongdoing has occurred. Premier Davis was joined at the announcement by the Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Chief Bill Janes and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Andrew Boland.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development: Sport Newfoundland and Labrador

The Newfoundland and Labrador Basketball Association (NLBA) will host a 32 team high school boys and girls basketball tournament this weekend, December 12-14, at the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre in St. John's.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will provide details today (Thursday, December 11) on legislation intended to assist police in investigating missing persons cases.

Health and Community Services

The primary health care forum for the Burin Peninsula region will take place tomorrow (Friday, December 12) at the Burin Legion (Branch 29) in Salt Pond, Burin Bay Arm from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, extended congratulations today to Northern Harvest Sea Farms for becoming the first salmon farming company in the world to achieve a four-star Best Aquaculture Practices certification. This certification is provided by the Global Aquaculture Alliance, an international, non-profit trade association dedicated to advancing environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today extended congratulations to Ken Marshall on his permanent appointment as Chair of the Board of Directors of Nalcor Energy and its subsidiary companies.

Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to highlight the significant contribution the Growing Forward 2 program is making to the agriculture and agrifoods sector.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to share the excitement that is building around the Fogo Island Inn and its growing reputation as a prestigious and unique international destination, offering an unforgettable encounter with Fogo heritage.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in this Honourable House to speak to our government’s recent funding partnership in support of the Translational and Personalized Medicine Initiative, or TPMI as it is known. I was pleased to attend the launch event late last month along with the Premier and a number of my Cabinet colleagues.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Icewater Seafoods Inc., a processing company based in Arnold’s Cove that specializes in cod and groundfish products, will receive $200,000 from the Provincial Government to help install new equipment that will significantly boost product yield and quality. The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced the funding through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program today. This funding will support the installation of Icelandic heading and mincing equipment that is new to the fish processing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Justice and Public Safety

The Human Rights Commission will mark International Human Rights Day on December 10 with a gathering at the Association for New Canadians' Language School at 10 Smithville Crescent. The commission chair and staff will discuss human rights with Language School students, and will mark the event through a social gathering and an exhibition of students' writing on the theme of human rights.

Justice and Public Safety

The Provincial Government is pleased to acknowledge and celebrate 2014’s International Human Rights Day. Since the United Nations’ adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, this date has been celebrated by governments, organizations and individuals with an aim of bringing attention to the declaration as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. This year’s slogan Human Rights 365 encompasses the idea that every day is Human Rights Day.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

This statement is being released on behalf of the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs in response to the statement released earlier today by the Honourable Rob Moore:

Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, will announce funding to enhance processing operations at the Icewater Seafoods processing facility tomorrow (Wednesday, December 10). The announcement will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Icewater Seafoods facility located at 24 High Liner Drive in Arnold's Cove.

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide Honourable Members with the third annual update on implementing the 2011 climate change and energy efficiency action plans.

Advanced Education and Skills

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to talk about a job fair that was recently held for inmates at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary. This is the first time the “Workin’ It” Job Fair has been held at the penitentiary and was organized by the HMP Mental Health Working Group, which includes representation from the Community, Career and Employment Partnership Project.