Government of Newfoundland News

Finance

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, today released Budget 2018: Building for Our Future, which confirms that Newfoundland and Labrador is on track to return to surplus in 2022-23 despite a challenging fiscal environment. Building for Our Future continues government’s balanced approach to supporting communities and families throughout the province while helping to create new business and employment opportunities.

Office of the Auditor General

Today, acting on behalf of auditors general of most provinces and the Auditor General of Canada, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Julie Gelfand provided the House of Commons with a report titled “Perspectives on Climate Change Action in Canada: A Collaborative Report from Auditors General”.

Natural Resources

A Bill to Amend the Electricity Power Control Act, 1994 and the Public Utilities Act went to second reading today in the House of Assembly. Amendments are to adopt an open access transmission framework for the province’s high-voltage electricity transmission system.

Fisheries and Land Resources

To advance commitments outlined in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, today provided further details to support the goal to increase timber allocations and harvest levels by 20 per cent by 2020.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, epilepsy affects over 10,000 people in this province, more than 300,000 Canadians, and approximately 50 million people around the world.

Service NL

Mr. Speaker, recognizing the important role that business and industry play in driving our province’s economy, our government introduced a new Public Procurement Act in November 2016. As of March 24, most of the act is now in effect, while provisions on supplier debriefs, complaints and supplier performance come into effect on September 24.

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, after a week of exciting competition, the 2018 Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games concluded on March 18 in Deer Lake. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to attend some of the events, and it was such a pleasure to watch our province’s young athletes as they strived for the podium.

Transportation and Works

Visitors to the Confederation Building Complex in St. John’s are advised that regular Budget day parking policies will be implemented tomorrow (Tuesday, March 27).

Service NL

Amendments to the Buildings Accessibility Regulations under the Buildings Accessibility Act have been published in the Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette, and come into force on April 23, 2018. The Provincial Government announced amendments to the Buildings Accessibility Regulations and the Designated Mobility Impaired Parking Regulations in October to improve accessibility and inclusion for all persons in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Office of the Auditor General

On behalf of the Auditors General of most provinces as well as the Auditor General of Canada, the federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Julie Gelfand, will be presenting a collaborative report titled “Perspectives on Climate Change Action in Canada: A Collaborative Report from Auditors General” for tabling in the House of Commons on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

Finance
Children, Seniors and Social Development

Today the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, along with the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), announced new programs to make it easier for new home buyers to purchase their first home.

Natural Resources

A technical briefing for media related to open access framework for transmitting electricity will be provided today (Monday, March 26). The briefing will take place in the Media Centre, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building, at 11:30 a.m. The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, will be available to answer questions immediately following the technical briefing.

Finance
Children, Seniors and Social Development

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, and the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, will make a funding announcement on Monday, March 26, around home ownership programs for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Fisheries and Land Resources

Derrick Bragg, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Land Resources, will address attendees at the annual Fisherperson’s Service held as part of Fisherperson's Weekend, March 24 and 25. The service will be held Sunday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Pentecostal Tabernacle, Port de Grave.

Children, Seniors and Social Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will bring greetings at the Kids Eat Smart Foundation’s Silver Gala tomorrow (Saturday, March 24). The event will take place at the Delta Hotel in St. John’s, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Justice and Public Safety

The Fines Administration Division of the Department of Justice and Public Safety, currently located at Atlantic Place, 215 Water Street, St. John's, will be moving to the first floor of the Natural Resources Building at 50 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s. The move is effective Monday, March 26.

Executive Council

The installation of the Lieutenant Governor designate, the Honourable Judy Foote, P.C., will take place on Thursday, May 3, during a ceremony at the House of Assembly.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Ministers of the Cabinet Committee on Jobs, provincial MHAs, and representatives from the business and not-for-profit sectors, joined today in Grand Falls-Windsor to announce mining, forestry, and community sectors as the next areas of focus for economic development in the coming year.

Health and Community Services

Dr. Delphine Grynszpan, provincial Medical Officer of Health, will be available to speak to media today (Friday, March 23) on Tuberculosis.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today congratulated Joel Thomas Hynes for winning the 2017 BMO Winterset Award at a ceremony held at Government House in St. John’s.