Government of Newfoundland News

Environment and Conservation

The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Environment and Conservation, joined campers, visitors and parks staff today at Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park in Cormack to recognize the 60th anniversary of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Parks.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will hold a news conference today (Thursday, July 31) to release the Oversight Committee’s first report on the Muskrat Falls Project. Premier Marshall will be joined by the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services- Newfoundland and Labrador, was joined last evening by the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Finance and MHA for Trinity - Bay de Verde, to announce a new rural response unit for Heart’s Delight-Islington.

Health and Community Services

The Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre will receive over $1 million for the purchase of equipment that supports diagnostic imaging, fetal monitoring, patient care and infrastructure upgrades. The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Health and Community Services, was joined today by the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education and MHA for Grand Bank, and Don Keats, Interim President and CEO of Eastern Health, at the centre for the announcement.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Provincial Government is joining with the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Phillip’s, to provide nearly $2.8 million in cost-shared funding to upgrade water and sewer servicing in the community. The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, made the announcement today. The minister was joined by the Honourable Dave Brazil, Minister of Service NL and MHA for Conception Bay East - Bell Island, and Moses Tucker, Mayor of the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Phillip’s.

Innovation, Business and Rural Development

The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, will announce details on funding that will support development of the Long Harbour Industrial Park tomorrow (Thursday, July 31).

Fisheries and Aquaculture

A new cooling system supported by the Provincial Government’s Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program will help Codroy Seafoods increase its lobster processing activities, maintain the quality of its seafood, and provide better service to domestic and international markets. The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced $100,000 today for the new equipment which will enhance the company’s holding tanks so that they can hold more live lobsters for a longer period of time.

Health and Community Services

Residents of Grand Bank and surrounding communities are benefiting from $565,000 in Provincial Government funding for infrastructure upgrades and health care projects. The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Health and Community Services, was joined today by the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education and MHA for Grand Bank, and Don Keats, Interim President and CEO of Eastern Health, at Blue Crest Nursing Home for the announcement.

Environment and Conservation

The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Environment and Conservation, will take part in a Parks Proud - 60 Years of Service celebration tomorrow (Thursday, July 31) at 10:00 a.m. The event will take place at Sir Richard Squires Memorial Provincial Park, located on Route 422, 16 kilometres past Cormack.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, will announce Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program funding for Codroy Seafoods tomorrow (Wednesday, July 30) at 10:30 a.m. The announcement will take place at the facility which is located on the main road in the community of Codroy.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Health and Community Services, will make health care funding announcements in the communities of Grand Bank and Burin tomorrow (Wednesday, July 30).

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, will be joined by the Honourable Dave Brazil, Minister of Service NL and MHA for Conception Bay East - Bell Island, to make a funding announcement regarding multi-year capital works tomorrow (Wednesday, July 30) at Rainbow Gully Park, Portugal Cove-St Philip’s. The event will get underway at 12:00 p.m.

Executive Council

On Wednesday, July 30, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Their Honours the Honourable Frank F. Fagan, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Her Honour Patricia Fagan invite the general public to attend the annual Garden Party at Government House.

Education

Primary teachers, early childhood educators and other early learning partners will attend a two-day information workshop, Summer Institute 2014 – Play the Kindergarten Way, focusing on early literacy development and play-based learning, on August 27-28 at the District School on Strawberry Marsh Road in St. John’s.

Education

Tricon Elementary in Bay de Verde will soon have new windows, following the recent award of a tender, valued at almost $188,000, to Coastal Building Products and Services Ltd. of Mount Pearl. With a roofing project completed at the school last year, more than $430,000 has been invested in Tricon Elementary in recent years.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

As a cultural leader in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador continues to build relationships with jurisdictions which have cultural and historic significance for our province. Recognizing this, the Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, and John P. McDonough, Secretary of State, Maryland, today signed a Friendship Agreement which builds upon a shared cultural history and will strengthen ties between the two jurisdictions.

Health and Community Services

To enhance health care services in the western region, the Provincial Government is investing $506,000 for renovations, repairs and health care equipment at the Rufus Guinchard Health Centre in Port Saunders and the Bonne Bay Health Centre in Norris Point.

Innovation, Business and Rural Development

The Southern Shore Folk Arts Council is better positioned to support the cultural sector in the Ferryland region as a result of a Provincial Government investment of $54,538. Funding will be used to enhance Festival Park, home of the annual Shamrock Folk Festival, as well as support other Arts Council amenities. The 29th annual Shamrock Festival will take place this weekend in Ferryland.

Natural Resources

The outdoor fire ban implemented for forest land in all regions on the Island of Newfoundland will end at 6:00 p.m. today (Friday, July 25). Forestry officials with the Department of Natural Resources have determined that current weather and forest conditions warrant lifting the ban. Once the ban is lifted, there will no longer be a restriction on open fires, campfires, the use of outdoor wood burning devices, fireworks, backyard fires including backyard fire pits, and beach fires on Crown forested areas.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, will be joined by John P. McDonough, Secretary of State, Maryland, for the signing of a Friendship Agreement between the two jurisdictions.