Government of Newfoundland News

Children, Seniors and Social Development

Today, the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC), announced $740,000 in funding for The Gathering Place and End Homelessness St. John’s as part of NLHC review initiatives. This funding, provided through the NLHC, will assist the two non-profit organizations to prevent and end homelessness, foster long-term housing stability and provide on-site and outreach support services.

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government is seeking input from residents through an online questionnaire to help inform the drafting of new public health legislation. The deadline for responses is March 19.

Justice and Public Safety

Today, the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, announced that a West Coast Justice Summit will be held on March 16 in Corner Brook. Similar to the previous summits held in St. John’s and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the purpose of this event is to bring together key players in the criminal justice system to identify issues and determine possible solutions and action plans for improving the criminal justice system.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, has announced the following event relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will address delegates at the Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador Annual Conference and Trade Show tomorrow (Wednesday, February 21). The event takes place at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, 115 Cavendish Square, St. John's, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Children, Seniors and Social Development

The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, will make a significant funding announcement tomorrow (Wednesday, February 21) to help prevent and end homelessness. The event will take place at The Gathering Place, 172 Military Road, St. John’s, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, today announced an increase to the minimum wage of 15 cents bringing the rate to $11.15 effective April 1, 2018. The minimum overtime rate will increase to $16.73, 1.5 times the minimum wage rate. The increase, and future increases to take effect April 1 of each year, will be based on the percentage change in the National Consumer Price Index.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

In the most recent tour of technology companies by representatives of the Provincial Government, the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, as well as Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, visited Virtual Marine today to view the progress of its new Ice Management Simulator. The simulator is designed specifically to target the needs of the coast guard, and defence industry. Virtual Marine also demonstrated its lifeboat simulator, which is used in the offshore oil and gas industry globally for coxswain training.

Service NL

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced today that amendments to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act will be introduced in the House of Assembly during the upcoming session, enhancing benefits available to injured workers and their families. If the amendments are passed, the income replacement rate (IRR) for injured workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, or their dependents, will increase from 80 to 85 per cent. The IRR is the percentage of a worker’s pre-injury net income that is covered by the workers’ compensation system.

Municipal Affairs and Environment

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment is working with the Town of Deer Lake and the Town of Reidville regarding plans for the safe removal of debris in the Humber Canal.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, will be visiting Fogo Island Central Academy, tomorrow (Tuesday, February 20) at 2:00 p.m. Minister Kirby will be joined by Derrick Bragg, MHA for Fogo Island - Cape Freels.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, as well as Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will tour Virtual Marine tomorrow (Tuesday, February 20). The tour takes place at 20 Hallett Crescent, Suite 100, St. John's, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

House of Assembly

The Honourable Perry Trimper, Speaker of the House of Assembly, advises that the House of Assembly will open for the Winter-Spring sitting at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 26.

Service NL

The Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister of Service NL and Minister responsible for Workplace NL, will announce a change to benefits for injured workers.

Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, will announce changes regarding minimum wage tomorrow (Tuesday, February 20) at 1:00 p.m. The announcement will take place in the Media Centre, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will attend a meeting on the Atlantic Growth Strategy tomorrow (February 20) in Riverview, New Brunswick.

Transportation and Works

The MV Veteran has returned to service Fogo Island – Change Islands – Farewell.

Executive Council
Natural Resources

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, were joined by members of the Oil and Gas Industry Development Council today to release Advance 2030.

Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, will bring greetings at a National Heritage Day ceremony on Monday, February 19. The event takes place at YellowBelly Brewery, 288 Water Street, St. John's, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Executive Council

The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, will launch a plan for growth in the oil and gas industry at a symposium being held at The Rooms, third floor atrium, 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 19.