Government of Newfoundland News

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.

Finance

This past year saw historic progress in public service pension reform, made possible by a joint agreement between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the five largest unions representing members of the Public Service Pension Plan. This agreement ensures the plan is sustainable and remains a defined benefit plan. It also provides for joint management and an equal sharing between government and plan members in any future surpluses and deficits.

Environment and Conservation

In 2014, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) implemented new public education outreach programs for schools, communities and businesses to strengthen participation in recycling and waste diversion programs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, today gave an update on the implementation of the Provincial Government’s six-year plan to provide students with strong foundations for language and reading skills. As part of Learning for a Lifetime – A Literacy Plan for Kindergarten to Secondary, this year the annual renewal of provincial curriculum included a focus on English Language Arts and Art, with plans for further updates in September 2015.

Service NL

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians continue to benefit from expanded access to a growing number of online government services. Over the past year, Service NL has added a number of online services and formed a unique partnership with Canada Post through epost™.

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government is holding additional consultation sessions as part of the Premier’s Summit on Health Care.

Advanced Education and Skills

Over 7,300 individuals across Newfoundland and Labrador participated in skills training programs in 2014, including skills development, apprentice supports, employment development supports and training supports for persons with disabilities.