Government of Newfoundland News

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2023-012 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/commissioner.

Report: A-2023-012 Report Date: March 8, 2023 Public Body: City of St. John’s Summary: The Complainant requested the 2019 to 2021 financial statements for St. John’s Sports and Entertainment Ltd. from the City of St. John’s. The 2021 statement included information on the aggregate amount paid out by St. John’s Sports and Entertainment Ltd. to settle workplace disputes, as well as information pertaining to the settlement of another legal matter. The City objected to the release of this information, citing sections 30(1)(a), 30(2), 35(1)(b), and 35(1)(g) of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. The City also asserted settlement privilege. The Commissioner found, pursuant to section 43(3), that the City did not meet the burden of proof for any of the exceptions to disclosure it cited. Further, the Commissioner held that settlement privilege is not recognized as an exception to disclosure under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. The Commissioner recommended the City release the information currently being withheld from St. John’s Sports and Entertainment Ltd.’s 2021 financial statements.

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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309

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Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are reminded that Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend. At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 12, clocks should be set one hour ahead.

When adjusting clocks, residents are encouraged to take the opportunity to change the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

The Department of Justice and Public Safety advises that smoke alarms are required to be installed in the following areas of a residence:

• On every level of your home, including the basement;
• In every bedroom; and
• In the hallway or room outside of every bedroom or separate sleeping area.

It is recommended that households or cabins that have a wood, oil or propane fuel-fired appliance also have a carbon monoxide detector installed on each level of the structure.

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Over the coming weeks Wildlife Officials with the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture are conducting a caribou survey in western Newfoundland and on the Northern Peninsula using low-level flying aircraft.

The survey includes the St. Anthony, Northern Peninsula, Gros Morne, Hampden Downs, Adies Lake and Gregory Plateau caribou herds.

A number of caribou will be marked with highly visible red paint as part of the survey requirements. The paint does not impact caribou – it will remain on the animals for the duration of the winter and shed with their winter coats in the spring.

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The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture has been made aware of reports of polar bears in and around the communities of St. Anthony, Port Hope Simpson, St. Lewis and Black Tickle.

Conservation officers with the department are monitoring the areas and encouraging residents to take appropriate steps to avoid a polar bear encounter.

Residents should keep pets inside or under close supervision, travel in groups when outdoors if possible, and never approach a fresh kill or carcass. Be sure to properly store and dispose of garbage to avoid attracting bears into communities where they present a risk to public safety.

Under no circumstances should residents approach a polar bear. While every situation is different, when encountering a polar bear take note of the bear’s behavior.

If the bear does not see you:

• Quietly back away and leave the area;
• Try to stay downwind of the animal;
• Keep an eye on the bear; and
• Never get between a bear and her cubs.

If the bear has seen or smelled you:

• Remain calm;
• Give the bear space and a route to get away;
• Back away but do not run;
• If you must speak, do so calmly and firmly; and
• Avoid direct eye contact with the bear.

Based on previous year’s observations of polar bear migration patterns, communities along the tip of the Northern Peninsula and south coast of Labrador may observe polar bears during this time of year.

Polar bear sightings in the St. Anthony area should be reported to the Roddickton Forestry Management District Office at 709-457-2300, or the after hour emergency line at 709-457-7243.

Polar bear sightings in southern Labrador should be reported to the Port Hope Simpson Forest Management Office at 709-960-0400, or the after hour emergency line at 709-897-7116.

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The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, will bring greetings at the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games 2023 tomorrow (Thursday, March 9).

The opening ceremonies will take place at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium, 5 Jones Street, Grand Falls-Windsor, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games 2023 will bring together approximately 400 athletes and coaches from all regions of the province to participate in sporting events such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, curling, five-pin bowling and floor hockey.

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Digital Government and Service NL today announced that Clarenville Area Consumers Co-operative Society Ltd., has been charged with violations under Newfoundland and Labrador’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and Regulations.

The charges result from an investigation by the Occupational Health and Safety Division following an incident, which occurred in March 2021, resulting in serious injuries to an employee due to a fall.

Clarenville Area Consumers Co-operative Society Ltd. is charged with four violations, which relate to its alleged failure as an employer to:

• Provide a safe workplace and the necessary equipment, systems and tools that were without risk to workers;
• Ensure that material and equipment was placed, stacked or stored in a manner that did not constitute a hazard to a worker in the area;
• Ensure that a workplace or an area in that workplace was not so overcrowded as to cause risk of injury; and
• Ensure that appropriate fall protection was used where a worker was exposed to a hazard of falling from a work area, to a surface that could cause injury should a fall occur.

Clarenville Area Consumers Co-operative Society Ltd. is scheduled to appear at Provincial Court in Clarenville on March 9, 2023.

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Today is International Women’s Day, a dedicated time to celebrate the achievements of women across Newfoundland and Labrador and around the world.

The Provincial Government has made investments throughout community and industry to support girls and women and to promote gender equality in this province. Through Budget 2022, government allocated $2.6 million for operational funding to support women’s centres and status of women councils that work to achieve equality and justice for women in the province.

Investments and initiatives by the Provincial Government are also resulting in positive impacts for women in the areas of skills development, child care, gender equity work plans, and helping women to assume leadership roles and access funds for business opportunities.

The Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality, is part of the Canadian delegation attending the United Nations’ 67th Commission on the Status of Women in New York City from March 6-10.

To recognize the contribution of women working in the public service, government social media channels have been featuring the contributions of government employees throughout the week of March 6-10. This is an opportunity to highlight some of the dedicated women working throughout the public service.

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“Happy International Women’s Day to everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly to women and girls who are helping to advance gender equality throughout the province. Our government will continue to support initiatives that ensure that women, girls and people of all genders have access to equitable opportunities. We have made great strides, and will keep advancing initiatives to achieve true gender equality in our province.”
Honourable Pam Parsons
Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality

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International Women’s Day

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Today, the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, announced $1.4 million in funding for improvements to local tennis facilities, as the City of St. John’s and the province prepare to host the 2025 Canada Summer Games.

With this Provincial Government investment, indoor and outdoor facilities in St. John’s will see significant positive impacts. Tennis Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to improve the court and lighting systems at Riverdale Tennis Club, and will improve seating, make court upgrades and install a new air dome at the Green Belt Tennis Club.

These enhancements will ensure St. John’s has high-quality facilities that meet the technical standards required for hosting Canada Summer Games tennis events.

The modernization of these facilities will also provide a lasting legacy for tennis athletes and leisure players to enjoy, and will help encourage active living in the community. It will also strengthen the potential for Newfoundland and Labrador to host other large-scale tennis events in the future.

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“Hosting the Canada Games brings a multitude of economic and social benefits to communities. The Provincial Government is pleased to make this infrastructure investment, both to support the upcoming games and to support the game of tennis, helping to create healthier, more active communities in the years ahead.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

“Thanks to the support of Minister Crocker and the Provincial Government, we have an opportunity to build a legacy in tennis and inspire the next generation in our province to pick up a racket and live better through sport. Tennis is truly a lifelong activity for people of all ages and abilities, and we look forward to reaching new heights in our province creating champions, both in tennis and in life.”
Melissa Pine
President, Tennis Newfoundland and Labrador

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2025 Canada Summer Games

Tennis Newfoundland and Labrador

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The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, will travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia, this week to attend the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration. The forum will take place on March 9 and 10.

Continuing to build on Newfoundland and Labrador’s historic immigration success in 2022, Minister Byrne will discuss a number of key issues with the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Points for discussion include:

• Canada’s continued support for Ukraine, clarity on how long the one-time federal financial assistance payment will continue for newly arrived Ukrainians, and the Federal Government’s position on the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel visa, which is due to stop accepting applications March 31;
• Installing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada staff in Newfoundland and Labrador, in line with increased staffing in other provinces;
• Clarity on federally-funded supports for Roxham Road asylum seekers destined for Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Calls to increase funding for Newfoundland and Labrador settlement agencies, such as the Association for New Canadians, who collectively continue to receive the lowest base amount of settlement funding in Canada; and
• Ongoing importance of increased immigration spaces and provincial-federal collaboration given Newfoundland and Labrador’s recent immigration success.

Minister Byrne is available to media in advance of the forum.

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The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs and Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, today provided the following statement on the cancellation of Cain’s Quest 2023.

“The decision announced by the Cain’s Quest board of directors and organizing committee today to cancel the race was undoubtedly a difficult one to make. In the interest of safety of the competitors, their support crews, race officials, checkpoint personnel and other volunteers, as well as a thorough review of the weather conditions today and into the coming days, this was certainly the best and most responsible decision for all concerned.

Praise goes to the competitors for taking on the enormous challenge of participating in the longest and most challenging snowmobile race in the world. From the time you sped across Tanya Lake in Labrador City on Saturday, to your efforts to battle the elements caused by a drastic turn in the weather, all of Labrador and beyond watched with great interest and cheered you on. You did not disappoint.

To the community volunteers who opened your homes and your hearts to the racers, and came to their aid under such trying circumstances, thank you for demonstrating your compassion and your friendly, caring nature. To the event sponsors for your support and to the board of directors and organizing committee, your efforts were not in vain. Your preparation and attention to detail was second-to-none.

While this is a disappointing setback, safety cannot be compromised, especially when it involves a mid-winter venture to the four corners of the Big Land. Cain’s Quest will rise again, and we will be there again to support the race.”

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The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs, will participate in the 2023 International Indigenous Tourism Conference, March 8 to 10.

The conference takes place at the RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The International Indigenous Tourism Conference is an annual event that brings together people from around the world to advance and grow the Indigenous tourism industry.

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The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will bring greetings at the International Women’s Day Luncheon tomorrow (Wednesday, March 8).

The event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John’s, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

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The Provincial Government continues to take meaningful action to reimagine health care in Newfoundland and Labrador based on recommendations of Health Accord NL. Central to the approach is creating a more effective and efficient system that is reflective of the current environment and focused on improved service delivery and health outcomes.

With this in mind, Eastern Health has added urgent care to the Dr. William H. Newhook Community Health Centre in Whitbourne, in addition to its current status as a Primary Care Centre. This combined clinic will provide patients with primary health care, as well as urgent/same-day care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses. Examples of patients who may be seen include:

• Those with sprains and strains;
• Those with new and worsening non-emergent pain, fever, infections (i.e. chest, ear and urinary tract); and
• Childhood illness and injury, cuts, wounds, or skin conditions.

Laboratory and medical imaging services will also be available on site to provide timely access to diagnosis and treatment. More information on Urgent Care Centres can be found here.

Based on current staffing levels, the hours of operation for the Urgent Care Centre will begin with three days a week, eight hours per day, and will increase incrementally, moving to Monday to Friday, 12 hours per day as additional staff are recruited for the area, and eventually to 12 hours, seven days a week. The long-term goal will be extended hours in the evenings, which is also contingent on recruitment. The utilization of the centre will continue to be evaluated, and hours of operation will be increased as demand requires and based on recruitment.

A set number of appointments will be available daily depending on the number of providers. Walk-in appointments will also be available. In addition to providing primary and urgent care, outpatient services will continue to be offered, including diabetes education and outpatient laboratory and medical imaging services Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Provincial Government continues to implement its plan, which places emphasis on addressing short and long-term needs, as well as the recruitment and retention of health care professionals. The creation of an Urgent Care Centre to serve the needs of the people of Whitbourne and surrounding areas is in keeping with this plan.

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“We continue to implement innovative solutions to help alleviate the stress on our health care system and provide our residents with access to primary care. Adding urgent care to the Dr. William H. Newhook facility for Whitbourne and surrounding areas will provide patients with enhanced primary health care, as well as urgent/same-day care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses. This is a positive step forward that will help yield positive results by providing care to those who need access but do not need emergency care.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Eastern Health is committed to ensuring that the people we serve receive timely access to the right service, at the right time, in the right place. Urgent Care Centres allow for care in the community, closer to where people live, work and play, and aligns with the vision set out by Health Accord NL. This team-based approach will help families and individuals access same day care in order to stay healthy, manage chronic diseases and recover from illnesses more quickly. Urgent Care Centres are an important part of our plan to transform the health care system and deliver integrated community-based care across the region.”
Ron Johnson
Vice President, Innovation and Rural Health, Eastern Health

“As the Member of the House of Assembly for the District of Placentia – St. Mary’s, I recognize how challenging the shortage of health care professionals has been for my constituents. I have heard your concerns, and the designation of the Dr. William H. Newhook Community Health Centre as an Urgent Care Centre helps address the immediate health needs of the residents in the area. Utilization of the centre will continue to be evaluated, and I will continue to work with you on this important issue.”
Sherry Gambin-Walsh
MHA for Placentia – St. Mary’s

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Health Accord NL

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The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2023-011 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/commissioner.

Report: A-2023-011 Report Date: March 6, 2023 Public Body: Treasury Board Secretariat Summary: Treasury Board Secretariat received an access request for records relating to a workplace investigation involving the Applicant. It provided most of the records, but redacted some information on the basis of sections 29 (advice and recommendations), 30 (solicitor client privilege), 31 (security arrangements), and 40 (personal privacy). The Applicant filed a complaint with our Office. During the informal resolution process, the section 31 and 40 issues were resolved. The Commissioner found that section 29 was properly applied. However, TBS had refused to provide our Office with the records for which section 30 were claimed. The Commissioner found that TBS had not met the burden of proof that section 30 applied, and therefore recommended that the information redacted on the basis of section 30 be disclosed to the Complainant.

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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309

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The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, will announce funding for 2025 Canada Summer Games infrastructure tomorrow (Wednesday, March 8).

The event will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Green Belt Tennis Club, 114 Newtown Road, St. John’s. It will also be livestreamed on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Facebook page.

Minister Crocker will be joined by the Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minster of Digital Government and Service NL and MHA for Mount Scio.

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The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, will make an announcement today (Tuesday, March 7) regarding health care in the Whitbourne region.

The availability will take place in the Media Centre, East Block, Confederation Building at 1:00 p.m. A technical briefing will take place for media at 12:30 p.m.

Minister Osborne will be joined by Ron Johnson, Vice President, Innovation and Rural Health, Eastern Health; Dr. Gena Bugden, Vice President, Medical Services, Eastern Health; and Sherry Gambin-Walsh, MHA for Placentia – St. Mary’s.

The availability will be livestreamed on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Facebook page.

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The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2023-010 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/commissioner.

Report: A-2023-010 Report Date: March 3, 2023 Public Body: Department of Health and Community Services Summary: The Complainant made six access to information requests to the Department of Health and Community Services under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. The Department did not respond to the requests within the period set out at section 16 of the Act and was therefore deemed to have refused access to the requested information. The Complainant asked the Commissioner to investigate these refusals of access. The Commissioner recommended that the Department release the records responsive to the Complainant’s four requests within ten business days.

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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309

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Motorists are being encouraged to be vigilant when travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway approximately 20 kilometers east of Deer Lake in the vicinity of the Deer Lake airport communication beacon.

A significant number of caribou are currently active in this area, crossing the highway and making them vulnerable to vehicular traffic. The animals are expected to remain in the area for several weeks.

Motorists can reduce the risk of a caribou-vehicle collision by:

• Scanning both sides of the highway and having passengers also watch for caribou;
• Paying attention to caribou warning signs;
• Avoiding driving at dusk and dawn when caribou are more common alongside roadways; and
• Reducing speeds when driving at night when caribou are more difficult to see.

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The House of Assembly advises that in accordance with the 2023 parliamentary calendar, the House will reconvene on Monday, March 13 at 1:30 p.m.

Proceedings throughout the spring sitting will be broadcast live via the House of Assembly television channel and streamed via the House of Assembly website.

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Media contact
Bobbi Russell
Policy and Communications Officer
House of Assembly
709-729-1178
bobbirussell@gov.nl.ca

 

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The Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, will bring greetings at the Newfoundland and Labrador Horticulture Producers Council Annual Conference tomorrow (Tuesday, March 7).

Minister Bragg’s remarks will take place at 12:15 p.m. at the Quality Hotel & Suites, 100 Trans-Canada Highway, Gander.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Horticulture Producers Council is a non-profit industry organization representing fruit, vegetable, Christmas tree and sod producers and greenhouse operators

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