Government of Newfoundland News

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to commend the hard work and dedication of those who responded to the severe storm and flooding on the West Coast last month.

Fisheries and Land Resources

The provincial Fisheries Advisory Council concludes that the inclusion of the principle of in the federal Fisheries Act would provide strong support for efforts to ensure the long-term viability of the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Building upon the Technology Industry Summit held by the Provincial Government on Friday, the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, as well as Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today toured C-CORE to view the progress of a project that will improve the detection of icebergs and ships in sea ice. The project contributes to the efforts of the Department of National Defence’s science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada, to fully exploit the capabilities of Canada’s upcoming RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) satellites for safety and security surveillance.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will bring greetings to the 2018 Craft and Gift Wholesale Show awards breakfast on Sunday, February 25. The event takes place at Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John's, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Executive Council

The Provincial Government today announced a newly strengthened and modernized Harassment Free Workplace Policy for departmental government employees. The new policy, which will come into full effect on June 1, 2018, is one of the most progressive workplace harassment policies in Canada.

Executive Council
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Through unprecedented collaboration between the Provincial Government and the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries (NATI); the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA); the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Newfoundland and Labrador (CME-NL); the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defense Association (ACADA); and other technology stakeholders, 27 actions were jointly launched today to grow the provincial technology industry.

Executive Council
Children, Seniors and Social Development

Today, Kaetlyn Osmond, a native of Marystown, and the reigning Canadian champion, claimed Olympic Bronze in figure skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Ms. Osmond also won a gold medal earlier in the Games along with Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Patrick Chan and Gabrielle Daleman in the figure skating team event.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Donovan Molloy, has released his Report P-2018-001 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, along with the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister Responsible for the Human Resource Secretariat and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, will announce changes regarding the harassment free workplace policy for core government departments tomorrow (Friday, February 23) at 2:30 p.m. The announcement will take place in the Media Centre, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will bring greetings to the Faces of the Florizel - 100th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibit opening reception tomorrow (Friday, February 23). The event takes place at Admiralty House Communications Museum, 365 Old Placentia Road, Mount Pearl, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Service NL

The Public Procurement Act, which helps modernize procurement by provincial public bodies, will come into effect on March 24, 2018. Regulations to accompany the act have now been published in the Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, today announced initiatives to encourage the return of expatriate Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Children, Seniors and Social Development

A key dedication ceremony was held today at St. John’s City Hall to celebrate Habitat for Humanity homes for two families.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will lead a technology industry summit in St. John’s tomorrow (Friday, February 23).

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government has provided $8,000 to the Paramedic Association of Newfoundland and Labrador to support mental health training for first responders.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

Having recently met and exchanged correspondence with the Eastern Regional Service Board, I am reiterating my position regarding the waste management collection fees for seasonal and cabin properties being charged by the board. In a letter yesterday, Board Chair Ed Grant confirmed that the board is charging fees based on the deliberations of the Board about what constitutes a fair approach to the collection of these fees.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Off the Beaten Path tourism marketing campaign has won eight Adrian Awards, including the prestigious Best in Show award, presented by Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) at a gala held in New York City on Tuesday.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services, will address the Rotary Club of St. John’s tomorrow (Thursday, February 22.)

Children, Seniors and Social Development

The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, will attend a dedication ceremony for two new Habitat for Humanity homes tomorrow (Thursday, February 22). The event takes place at St. John’s City Hall (Foran/Greene Room, Fourth Floor), 10 New Gower Street, beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Finance

The following is being distributed at the request of the Independent Tax Review Committee: