Government of Newfoundland News

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Elections Newfoundland and Labrador wishes to advise that all candidate nomination papers for the Windsor Lake by-election must be received by 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, August 30.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report P-2018-005 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

Service NL
Education and Early Childhood Development

Students are returning to their classrooms next week and motorists are reminded to drive with extra caution, especially in school zones.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Bonaventure Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Merrymeeting Road to Military Road from August 28 to September 4. During this period, the public may continue to access The Rooms parking lot on Bonaventure Avenue at the direction of onsite flag persons. Access to and parking for The Rooms will remain available via Harvey Road.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced two senior public service appointments. Robert Simmons has been appointed as Deputy Minister for the Human Resource Secretariat, effective September 10, and Jennifer Mercer, QC, has been appointed as Deputy Minister (Acting) with the Department of Justice and Public Safety and also as Deputy Attorney General (Acting), effective October 1.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report A-2018-020 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Thanks to investments of more than $613,000 from the Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada, Appalachian Chalets and RV, operated by Eltoq Developments Inc., is upgrading an existing Corner Brook recreational vehicle (RV) park and adding new accommodations to attract more visitors to the region.

House of Assembly

The Honourable Perry Trimper, Speaker and Chair of the House of Assembly Management Commission, advises that the Management Commission has received two reports from the Commissioner for Legislative Standards under the Code of Conduct for Members, in accordance with the House of Assembly, Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act (the Act). In his transmittal letter, the Commissioner has advised that there are additional reports to follow, and has requested that all reports be dealt with at the same time.

Natural Resources

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, will attend the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) Conference and Exhibition in Stavanger, Norway. The conference is being held from August 27 to 30. Minister Coady will be speaking at the Canada at ONS Seminar as well as the Canadian Embassy and Partners Reception on Wednesday, August 29.

http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2018/mae/0824n03.aspx

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government has partnered with the Town of Bonavista, Tip-A-Vista Wellness, the Bonavista Primary Health Care Community Advisory Committee, the Discovery Health Foundation, Eastern Health, and other community partners to continue improving primary health care services on the Bonavista Peninsula and construct a new $2.23 million wellness centre.

Fisheries and Land Resources
Transportation and Works

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has awarded a contract to Marine Contractors Inc. for customized office space for Department of Fisheries and Land Resources staff in Corner Brook. This initiative will save taxpayers approximately $560,000 annually.

Finance

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, today welcomed DBRS Limited’s decision to keep the Provincial Government’s credit rating stable. The stable credit rating follows S&P and Moody’s decision in July to maintain the Provincial Government’s credit rating.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

This month, the Federal Government delivered the first of two $16.4 million annual installments of the federal Gas Tax Fund to Newfoundland and Labrador. In total, the province has been allocated over $32.8 million for 275 communities this year through the fund, which include drinking water and waste water systems, culture and tourism infrastructure, and disaster mitigation projects.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will provide an update on the primary health care team on the Bonavista Peninsula tomorrow (Friday, August 24) at 12:00 p.m. Minister Haggie will be joined by Neil King, MHA for Bonavista.

Fisheries and Land Resources

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, will announce details to customize office space for the department in Corner Brook tomorrow (Friday, August 24).

Office of the Commissioner for Legislative Standards

In response to numerous requests for updates on the status of the recent harassment investigations in the legislature, the Commissioner for Legislative Standards for Newfoundland and Labrador, Bruce Chaulk, is assuring those involved that his office will be working strictly in accordance with the provisions of the House of Assembly, Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act with regards to the distribution of the investigation reports.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

A portion of T’Railway Provincial Park, specifically the TCH underpass located west of the Bay d’Espoir Highway (Route 360) between Bishop’s Falls and Norris Arm, will remain closed for another month.

Children, Seniors and Social Development

Derek Bennett, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, will bring greetings and throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the opening ceremonies of the U14 Girls Fastpitch Eastern Canadian Softball Championship.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Bruce Chaulk, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chief Electoral Officer, has issued a writ of election for Windsor Lake, signaling the beginning of the by-election in that electoral district.