Government of Newfoundland News

Children, Seniors and Social Development

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate two members of the Provincial Advisory Council for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities on being invested into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. Earlier this year, advisory council member Katarina Roxon and Chair Marie Ryan were among the recipients who received our province’s highest honour from the Lieutenant Governor.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

Impacted workers of Daley Brothers Woodman’s Sea Products plant in New Harbour are advised of a change of venue for the information sessions on employment and training services scheduled for May 7.

Transportation and Works

Visitors to the Confederation Building Complex in St. John’s are advised that parking restrictions will be in place tomorrow (Thursday, May 3) near the East Block to accommodate the installation of Newfoundland and Labrador’s next Lieutenant Governor, Judy Foote

Office of the Commissioner for Legislative Standards

The Commissioner for Legislative Standards, on request of the Premier, will conduct two separate investigations into the conduct of MHA Joyce and MHA Kirby.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report A-2018-010 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

Fisheries and Land Resources

Environment and Climate Change Canada has released its Progress Report on Unprotected Critical Habitat for the Woodland Caribou Boreal Population in Canada, which does not reflect the expressed advice of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and does not address the pressing matter of unsanctioned harvesting or other important considerations.

Fisheries and Land Resources

The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources has completed the Big Game Licence Draw for the 2018-19 hunting season. Applicants can view the results online if they have an account by logging into the Wildlife Information Management System at www.wildlife.gov.nl.ca/. Applicants will also be notified by mail in the coming days.

Fisheries and Land Resources

Further to the original Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan for Zone 2 (Clarenville) that had been previously reviewed, accepted and released from the environmental assessment process, the Provincial Government has considered additional suggestions from the citizens and town council of Port Blandford and is acting on the majority of requests.

Health and Community Services
Justice and Public Safety
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, and the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, will take part in McHappy Day tomorrow (Wednesday, May 2).

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, will attend the Rabbittown Learners Program 30th Anniversary Open House tomorrow (Wednesday, May 2) at 11:30 a.m. The celebration is taking place at 21 Merrymeeting Road in St. John’s.

Finance

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance, President of Treasury Board, and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, will address the Access, Privacy, Security and Information Management Conference tomorrow (Wednesday, May 2). The event takes place in St. John’s at Memorial University in the Main Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine building, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Service NL

Mr. Speaker, for the third consecutive year in Newfoundland and Labrador, the lost-time incidence rate due to workplace injury or illness has remained at an all-time low of 1.5 per 100 workers, among the lowest in Canada. The rate among 15 to 24 year-old workers also remained stable for the second consecutive year at 1.3 per 100 workers, remaining below the overall provincial rate. It is important that we help instill a culture of safe work practices at a young age, and the statistics indicate our efforts are working.

Justice and Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, when people think of Her Majesty’s Penitentiary, there is usually an immediate focus on the well-known and obvious issues with the facility. I would like to take the opportunity today to speak about a positive initiative at HMP – the woodworking program.

Office of the Commissioner for Legislative Standards

Yesterday in the House of Assembly the issue arose of a complaint being made to the Commissioner for Legislative Standards by the Town of Port Blandford against MHA Colin Holloway. This issue has also been subject to media attention since its disclosure.

Executive Council

The Chair of the Independent Appointments Commission (IAC) today provided notice of appointment opportunity under active recruitment by the IAC.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment is advising the public that rain, unseasonably warm temperatures and associated snowmelt over the past few days have resulted in elevated water levels and high stream flows around the province, particularly in the central and western regions of the island.

Executive Council

The installation of the Lieutenant Governor designate, Judy May Foote, will take place on Thursday, May 3, at 11:30 a.m. in the House of Assembly. The ceremony will be carried live on television over the House of Assembly Channel.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

Workers impacted by this season’s closure of the Daley Brothers Woodman Sea Projects plant in New Harbour are advised that employment and training services are readily available at Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Employment Centres throughout the province.

Justice and Public Safety

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, will address the Access, Privacy, Security and Information Management Conference tomorrow (Tuesday, May 1). The event takes place in St. John’s at Memorial University in the Main Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine building, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Transportation and Works

The Placentia Lift Bridge has been temporarily closed to all vehicle and marine traffic due to mechanical issues today (Monday, April 30).