Government of Newfoundland News

Health and Community Services
Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

November 14 is being recognized as World Diabetes Day in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, joined with the Canadian Diabetes Association for a proclamation signing to help raise awareness around the impact of diabetes. This year’s theme is Healthy Living and Diabetes.

Service NL

The Provincial Government has continued to deliver regulatory improvements for 2013-14 as a result of the Regulatory Reform Accountability Framework and ongoing commitments from Provincial Government departments, agencies, boards and commissions. For the 2013-14 fiscal year, over 1,300 regulatory requirements have been eliminated ensuring that the zero per cent net growth target for new regulations has been achieved.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Electors in the districts of Humber East and Trinity-Bay de Verde are asked to watch their mail for Voter Information Cards being circulated by Elections Newfoundland and Labrador.

Executive Council
Health and Community Services

Providing high-quality and accessible primary health care for the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador is a key priority of the Provincial Government. Recognizing this, and in keeping with the commitment made by the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Premier’s Summit on Health Care will be held on January 14, 2015 in St. John’s. To gather ideas and generate input to help shape the agenda for the summit, four public regional forums will take place beginning later this month. In addition, in advance of the summit the general public is invited to provide feedback electronically, by phone or by regular mail.

Justice and Public Safety
Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced today that the Provincial Government is investing approximately $260,000 to enhance firefighting capacity in the District of Bay of Islands, supporting the communities of Lark Harbour and York Harbour.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Elections Newfoundland and Labrador would like to notify electors in the districts of Humber East and Trinity-Bay de Verde that the deadline to apply for Special Ballot voting is approaching.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

AbbyShot Clothiers Limited is pursuing new product contracts to capitalize on global sales opportunities, thanks in part to investments from the Federal and Provincial Governments. Funding of more than $300,000 was announced today by Senator Fabian Manning on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), and the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development.

Natural Resources

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, today launched the new 10-year provincial sustainable forest management strategy during the Canadian Institute of Forestry, Newfoundland and Labrador Section, Annual General Meeting.

Health and Community Services

While the risk of a case of Ebola being introduced in Newfoundland and Labrador remains low, efforts are well underway to strengthen readiness and to ensure strong infection control systems and procedures are in place.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Provincial Government is encouraging recreation committees and organizations province-wide to apply to the Seniors Community Recreation Grant Program. Funding is available to assist with the costs associated with recreational programming for seniors. Applications are now available online.

Transportation and Works

The $1 million replacement of the Northeast Trepassey Bridge will soon begin with the construction of a temporary diversion to facilitate traffic while the new bridge is being built. The new bridge is scheduled to be open to traffic in August 2015.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, has joined with organizations and individuals around the globe to recognize November 13, 2014, as the first World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Purple lighting will illuminate Confederation Building today to coincide with this event.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will attend the Gold Medal Plates event at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, November 13) at the Delta St. John’s.

Natural Resources

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, will launch the provincial sustainable forest management strategy tomorrow (Thursday, November 13) at 12:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium in St. John’s during the annual general meeting for the Canadian Institute of Forestry, Newfoundland and Labrador Section.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will join Senator Fabian Manning, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), for a funding announcement related to AbbyShot Clothiers Limited tomorrow (Thursday, November 13). The event will take place at 2:00 p.m. at AbbyShot’s production facility, 75 Barbour Drive, Mount Pearl.

Health and Community Services

A new 12-bed protective community care residence is now officially open in Bonavista. Through an investment of approximately $2.6 million, local residents will have increased access to specialized care to meet the unique needs of individuals with dementia. The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, was joined by Glen Little, MHA for Bonavista South, and representatives from Eastern Health for a ribbon cutting and tour of the facility.

Executive Council
Education and Early Childhood Development
Transportation and Works

A tender has been called to begin construction of a new school in Paradise to accommodate students in kindergarten to Grade 6.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Are You On The Voters List? Electors in Newfoundland and Labrador are being asked this question as part of an initiative to promote Voter List registration and updates. Voters List Ad Cards are being circulated by Elections Newfoundland and Labrador to provide eligible electors with the option of having their names added to the Voters List or updating their existing information in advance of upcoming elections.

Executive Council

Ten new projects will receive Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grants for 2014-15. The grants amount to a total investment of $200,000, which is provided annually to the Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grants Program through the Provincial Government’s Violence Prevention Initiative.

Education and Early Childhood Development

Newfoundland and Labrador played an integral role in the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, led the Canadian delegation at the international conference, which took place November 9-12 and included over 1,000 delegates from around the world.