Government of Newfoundland News

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Minister of Health and Community Services, provided an update today on the ongoing work, planning and preparedness activities being undertaken by the Provincial Government and regional health authorities in the event that an Ebola case appears in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Service NL

The Honourable Tony Cornect, Minister of Service NL, will speak at the Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce’s official launch of Small Business Week on Monday, October 20. The event will take place at 12:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion located at 45 Oregon Drive, Stephenville.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, will participate in the opening of a two-day provincial conference of the Newfoundland and Labrador Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (NLNPEA) on Monday, October 20, at the Holiday Inn in St. John’s. The opening event takes place at 9:00 a.m.

Justice and Public Safety
Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador (FES-NL) is monitoring Hurricane Gonzalo. The recent forecast information from the Canadian Hurricane Centre advises of the potential for heavy rainfall, strong winds and large waves beginning Saturday evening and continuing into Sunday.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will speak at the opening of the seventh annual Arctic Shipping North America Forum. The event takes place at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 20, at the Delta Hotel in St. John’s.

Executive Council

Tracey Perry, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, will speak at the YWCA St. John’s Power of Being a Girl and Strength of Being a Boy conference tomorrow (Saturday, October 18). The event will take place at 9:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Junior High School, 7 Ricketts Road, St John's.

Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador, will be available to the media today (Friday, October 17), to discuss emergency preparedness in relation to Hurricane Gonzalo.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

Today (Thursday, October 17) is United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, took the opportunity to note that the Provincial Government continues its commitment to reduce poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador as evidenced by its more than $1 billion investment in Poverty Reduction Strategy initiatives since 2006.

Executive Council

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is recognizing tomorrow (Saturday, October 18) as Persons Day. This is a day to reflect on the many opportunities available in the public and private sectors and to celebrate the social and economic advancement of women and girls.

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government, in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information and the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, has issued a request for proposals to develop a provincial electronic medical record system to be used in physician practices. An electronic medical record will complement the ongoing development of the provincial electronic health record, HEALTHe NL, which provides a secure and private record of a person’s health and health care history.

Health and Community Services

Social isolation of seniors, caregiver readiness and supports, and mental wellness were among the issues discussed this week as federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) ministers responsible for seniors met in Charlottetown, P.E.I., October 15-16. The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, participated on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Justice

The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador, announced today that approximately $29,000 is being invested to improve firefighting capacity for two communities in the District of St. George’s - Stephenville East.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Minister of Health and Community Services, is recognizing the Community Coalition 4 Mental Health on its initiative to bring greater attention to the issue of mental health and mental illness.

Health and Community Services

Kevin Pollard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Steve Kent, Minister of Health and Community Services, will address the graduates of Memorial University of Newfoundland’s School of Nursing tomorrow (Friday, October 17). The graduation ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the Main Auditorium, Health Sciences Centre, St. John’s.

Justice

The Canadian Hurricane Centre is advising residents of the potential for high winds, heavy rainfall and large waves to occur this weekend as a result of Hurricane Gonzalo.

Finance
Health and Community Services

As committed in Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook, some 42,000 seniors in the province have now received an enhanced Low Income Seniors’ Benefit. As of October 3, seniors received the highest payment ever at $1,036, up from $971 in 2013.

Health and Community Services

Five research grants that focus on enhancing patient care have been awarded. The grants, totalling $259,000, were provided as part of the Enhancing Health Care in Newfoundland and Labrador research fund which was established as part of the recommendations put forth by the Commission of Inquiry on Hormone Receptor Testing.

Justice

The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador, announced today that approximately $30,000 is being invested to improve firefighting capacity for communities in the District of Bay of Islands.

Service NL

Today, credit unions throughout Newfoundland and Labrador are celebrating International Credit Union Day. This year’s theme, Local Service. Global Good., highlights the positive impact credit unions have on communities, and around the world. The credit union system in this province continues to be successful with growth occurring in a number of areas including membership and assets.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Elections Newfoundland and Labrador is seeking applications for polling station workers for the Conception Bay South by-election. Workers are needed for advance polls on October 29, 2014, and for ordinary polls on November 5, 2014.