Government of Newfoundland News

The 2024 Federal Budget removed the 2017 top-up funding under the Labour Market Transfer Agreements, resulting in a funding reduction of more than $16.8 million per year for Newfoundland and Labrador.

With the Government of Canada’s decision to cut $625 million in jobs funding nation-wide, almost 200,000 fewer people will be served across the country. Provinces and Territories are now forced to reduce or eliminate funding to service providers, including non-profit community organizations, as well as direct supports to job seekers, workers and employers at a time when acute skills and labour shortages are slowing economic growth, productivity and innovation.

As a result of this federal decision, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant for employers and workers is suspended until further notice.

Quote
“This painful decision to suspend the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant still leaves more than a $15 million shortfall for Newfoundland and Labrador to grapple with, and the status of many other employment programs in question, unless the federal cuts to Labour Market Transfer Agreements are reversed. Across Canada, Provincial and Territorial governments are also grappling to make difficult cuts to much-needed funding that provides employment supports across a variety of groups, including persons with autism, Indigenous groups and persons with disabilities.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

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The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the following relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:
Kings Point Storage and Repair Garage                                             (Reg. 2303)
Proponent: Victor Burt

The Proponent is proposing to construct a repair and storage garage in the industrial area of Kings Point for equipment such as skidders, trailers, excavators, dump trucks and others.  There will also be a domestic band sawmill with a partial enclosure. The parcel was previously used for equipment laydown. Project requires clearing of trees/brush and accumulated illegal dumping waste. A description of the project can be found on the department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/eccm/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on May 3, 2024; the deadline for public comment is June 7, 2024; and the Minister’s decision is due by June 17, 2024.

Fox Pond ATV Trail Extension               (Reg. 2302)
Proponent: Cameron Hall

The Proponent is proposing to extend the Fox Pond ATV trail 3.5 km to the Freshwater ATV trail, connecting the two trails. The purpose of connecting the two trails is to provide easier access to an existing hunting cabin located at Fox Pond on the southern Avalon of the province. The trail will be marked with wooden pegs. A description of the project can be found on the department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/eccm/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on May 3, 2024; the deadline for public comment is June 7, 2024; and the Minister’s decision is due by June 17, 2024.

Kami Iron Ore Mine                                                                                   (Reg. 2301)
Proponent: Champion Iron Mines Ltd.

The Proponent is proposing to construct an iron ore mine in Labrador West. The mine will be located approximately seven kilometres southwest from the Town of Wabush, and 10 kilometres southwest from the town of Labrador City. The mine will produce approximately 8.6 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate annually over a 26-year mine life. The Project will include an open pit mine, conveyors, ore stockpiles, processing plant, ore concentrate load-out, access roads, workforce accommodations, and a railway corridor to connect to the Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway. A description of the Project can be found on the department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/eccm/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on May 3, 2024; the deadline for public comments is June 7, 2024; and the Minister’s decision is due by June 17, 2024.

Glovertown Breakwater               (Reg. 2300)
Proponent: Norman Keats

The Proponent is proposing to complete the construction of an existing breakwater in Middle Arm, Alexander Bay. Development would consist of placing armour stone on top of the breakwater using an excavator operated on land. The breakwater measures seven metres in width and extends forty-seven metres from shore. A description of the Project can be found on the department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on May 2, 2024; the deadline for public comment is June 7, 2024; and the Minister’s decision is due by June 16, 2024.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Crown Zone 5 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan Amendment (2021-2025)    
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture   (Reg. 2295)

The Project is released from environmental assessment subject to the conditions as outlined in the Minister’s decision letter available on the Department’s Project web page at www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2295/.

Crown Zone 3 Five-Year Operating Plan Amendment (District 4) (2022-2026)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture   (Reg. 2294)

The Project is released from environmental assessment subject to the conditions as outlined in the Minister’s decision letter available on the Department’s Project web page at www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2294/.

PLAN ACCEPTABLE:

Appleton Mineral Exploration Project Expansion                            (Reg. 2273)
Proponent: New Found Gold Corp.

On May 3, 2024, the Minister advised the Proponent that the Historic Resources Impact Assessment for the Appleton Mineral Exploration Project Expansion was reviewed by the Provincial Archaeology Office and found to be acceptable. The plan was required by a condition of release from environmental assessment and is available on the Department’s Project web page at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2273/.

Learn more
Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Climate Change
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6

Environmental assessment information is available at:

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_Jan-2024.pdf

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Project comments may be sent to: EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca

Anyone submitting comments on a Project under environmental assessment is asked to please advise the Department if they DO NOT wish to have their comments shared with the Project Proponent.

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The Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Labrador Affairs and Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, is participating in an event in commemoration of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2 Spirit People.

Joining the Minister is Scott Reid, MHA for St. George’s-Humber.

The event is taking place at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, at the Mikwite’tm Garden, Church Street, Corner Brook.

The commemoration ceremony, organized by the Qalipu First Nation, will highlight and honour individuals and families in Newfoundland and Labrador and nationally who have been affected by the trauma associated with loss and violence. The public is invited to attend.

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The Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality, will bring greetings and sign a proclamation to recognize Stop Sexual Exploitation Week in Newfoundland and Labrador, on Monday, May 6.

The event takes place at Thrive Community Youth Network, 807 Water Street, St. John’s, at 12:00 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Coalition Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CASEY), a group of concerned professionals and experiential voices in the community who work together to address issues pertaining to the sexual exploitation of youth.

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The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, will participate in an announcement about the provincial dairy industry at an event hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Dairy Co-operative on Monday, May 6.

The announcement will take place at 10:30 a.m. at Pondview Farms in Goulds, 80 Forest Pond Road, off Petty Harbour Road.

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Today the Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, and the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and MHA St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi, announced an additional $300,000 in annual funding to the Murphy Centre to further support the Centre’s operations. This brings the total operating grant for high school academic services to over $1.16 million provided by the Provincial Government.

The Ministers made the announcement at the Murphy Centre and were joined by Tim Turner, Director of the Murphy Centre.

The additional $300,000 provided to the Murphy Centre’s annual operating grant will support the organization’s overall operations. The centre provides three options to complete a high school or equivalency diploma, as well as a wide range of career services designed to meet the unique needs of individuals.

The Murphy Centre provides effective, person-centred adult education, as well as career and personal development services to over 800 participants annually. Outreach Workers help participants connect with the centre, and navigate which services are best suited to their individual situation.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to ensuring that educational services are available to meet the needs of all students and learners. Alternative learning settings such as the Murphy Centre play a key role in providing person-centered educational environments for youth and young adults who may not be able to participate in the traditional K-12 school environment.

Quotes
“Everyone’s educational journey can be unique, and the Murphy Centre provides important services to individuals looking to continue or complete their studies. Our government is pleased to provide increased funding to the centre as they help people to meet their career and life goals.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education

“I am pleased to join the Minister of Education in announcing this new funding for the Murphy Centre. The Centre excels in supporting and promoting youth to continue on the path of education, a precursor for their future skills development, employability and overall well-being.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
MHA St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi

“We thank the Department of Education for making this significant additional financial investment in the Murphy Centre. It is a recognition of the important work the Murphy Centre is doing to assist participants in achieving their high school education. This added funding will help address a financial shortfall and help with enhancing some of our academic services.”
Tim Turner
Director, The Murphy Centre

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Learn more
The Murphy Centre

Budget 2024 – Education, Child Care and Growing Communities

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Effective Monday, May 6, 2024, the Government Service Centre located in Harbour Grace will be relocated to 25 Bareneed Road, Coley’s Point South, Bay Roberts.

The mailing address for the new location is:
Digital Government and Service NL
P.O. Box 460
Coley’s Point South, Bay Roberts, NL, A0A1X0

The new location will provide the same in-person services that were available to the public at the Harbour Grace office, including:

• Motor Registration Division services
• Private water sampling collection
• Environmental protection services
• Electrical inspection services

Many government services may also be accessed by visiting MyGovNL. A MyGovNL account can be easily created by providing an email address and creating a password.

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The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, will be in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to participate in the 2024 East Coast Music Awards.

As part of the weekend’s events, Minister Crocker will attend and bring greetings at the ECMA Newfoundland and Labrador reception tomorrow (Saturday, May 4).

The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Elm Room, Delta Hotel, Charlottetown.

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The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, will bring greetings at the Newfoundland and Labrador Regional MATE ROV competition tomorrow (Friday, May 3).

The event will take place at the Marine Institute, 155 Ridge Road, St. John’s, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The MATE ROV Competition is an international underwater robotics challenge that engages a global community of learners each year. Participants at the Newfoundland and Labrador regional competition will be competing for the chance to attend the MATE ROV World Championship in Kingsport, TN, in June 2024.

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The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, will announce funding for the Murphy Centre on Friday, May 3. Minister Howell will be joined by the Honourable John G. Abbott, MHA for St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi.

The announcement takes place at the Murphy Centre, 1 Prince Phillip Drive, St. John’s, (behind College of the North Atlantic), beginning at 11:00 a.m.

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The Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality, will be a guest presenter during the first day of competition for the 2024 Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program on Friday, May 3.

The Minister’s presentation on Women in Leadership Roles takes place at the Southlands Community Centre, 40 Teakwood Drive, St. John’s, at 10:00 a.m.

The Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program, established in 2006, is an incorporated, not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering and nurturing the potential of young women ages 13-18 in Grades 7-12 throughout the province.

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The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality:

Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sunday, May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, also known as Red Dress Day.

The red dress has become a powerful symbol of Indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who have been taken from their communities, often without justice or closure for their loved ones. Each empty space in a family or community leaves a void that can never be filled.

Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people face higher rates of violence than their non-Indigenous, cisgender and heterosexual counterparts, so this day is also a reminder that we must confront the systemic issues that lead to gender-based violence.

We cannot allow these tragedies to continue and must therefore stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities and support their efforts to seek justice and healing. We also must listen to the voices of survivors and families and amplify their calls for change.

In 2023-24 our government allocated over $1.2 million to support initiatives for Indigenous women, groups, and organizations. This included the Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council, Indigenous Violence Prevention Grants Program, the annual Provincial Indigenous Women’s Gathering, and funding support to the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network.

Speaker, our government will continue to support actions that aim to prevent violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Thank you, Speaker.

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The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University for its work matching medical students with family medicine in rural communities.

The faculty is the 2024 recipient of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada Rural Medical Education Award, which is presented to a Canadian medical school that matches the most graduates to rural family medicine residency programs.

Memorial led the country by matching 71 per cent of its graduates in 2023 to a rural family medicine residency.

Dr. Lyn Power, an assistant professor at the faculty who practices on the Burin Peninsula, was also honoured with the Rural Long Service Award.

The award recognizes physicians who serve in rural Canadian communities for 20 or more years. Dr. Power was also recognized as Fellow of Rural and Remote Medicine, which is presented to physicians with expertise in rural medicine in Canada.

We are proud of the faculty’s and Dr. Power’s work and dedication to practicing medicine in rural regions.

Speaker, through our support of the faculty, investments to increase seats for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and investments in recruitment and retention, we are excited about the future of physicians practicing in rural communities.

I ask all members to join me in congratulating the faculty and Dr. Power for these accomplishments.

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The Provincial Government is increasing the number of student assistants in the K-12 public education system and providing stability to the number of hours student assistants work each day. This increase in student supports is made possible through a $3 million investment announced as part of Budget 2024.

The investment will result in approximately 104 full-time equivalent student assistant positions being added to the K-12 public education system. In addition to new student assistant roles being injected into the system, the budget allocation also gives stability to student assistants by ensuring that all positions work a minimum of five hours per school day.

Student assistants play an important role in supporting student success in the classroom and on school buses. They work with and provide support to students with cognitive, physical and/or behavioral needs, and assist with the implementation of individual program plans for students which have been developed by the teacher in collaboration with the program planning team.

Providing a positive educational experience for students requires a variety of educators and staff in the school setting to ensure that student needs are met. This includes student assistants, classroom teachers, instructional resource teachers, teaching and learning assistants, and other roles that affect students’ education.

The Provincial Government is committed to creating and fostering a positive and modern learning environment. Recent actions to support these efforts include the elimination of the 1.6 kilometre rule to access school bus services; commitment to new school infrastructure in Kenmount Terrace, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, Cartwright, and Paradise; the elimination of public exams and development of a new assessment and evaluation framework for high school students; and dedicated recruitment and retention initiatives stemming from the recently held Teachers Think Tank and the ratification of the new collective agreement, which is further supported with allocated funding through Budget 2024.

Quotes
“Student assistants are critical to supporting student needs on school buses and in the classroom. This allocation of $3 million will increase the number of student assistants available to provide meaningful supports to students, which will ultimately help individual students, others in the classroom, and teachers.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education

“Student Assistants play an integral role in schools across our province. They provide vital support, empathy, care, and compassion via their unwavering dedication to the children in our school system. The funding contained in this year’s provincial budget for additional student assistants will go a long way to improving the experience and outcomes for everyone involved.”
Jerry Earle
President, NAPE

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Learn more
Budget 2024 – Education, Child Care and Growing Communities

Provincial Government and Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association Sign Collective Agreement

Teachers Think Tank to be Held in New Year to Inform Recruitment and Retention Initiatives

Site Announced for New School in Kenmount Terrace

Location Unveiled for Site of New School in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s

Provincial Government to Build a New High School for Paradise 

Provincial Government to Introduce New Model of Assessment and Evaluation for High School Students

Provincial Government Announces the Creation of Education Accord NL

Provincial Government Completes Integration of English School District

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BACKGROUNDER

Budget 2024 Investments in K-12 Education

• $850,000 to provide targeted recruitment and retention initiatives for positions in historically hard-to-fill rural, remote and isolated areas of the province. Initiatives include financial incentives; travel assistance; housing subsidies; and pre-service internships.
• Close to $3 million to increase student assistant hours and hire more student assistants, for the equivalent of 104 full-time student assistant positions.
• $3 million to expand school food programming to all pre-kindergarten and K-9 schools, beginning in 2024 with schools with the most need.
• Close to $1 million to support a new assessment and evaluation framework for high school students, as well as acquisition of a computer-based testing platform to implement high school literacy and numeracy assessments.
• $75,000 for 75 scholarships to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Confederation and improve access to post-secondary education.
• Close to $20 million for the elimination of the 1.6 kilometre policy to access school bus services.
• $30.1 million over the next five years to revitalize the fleet of school buses.
• $52.5 million in 2024-25 and $146.1 million over next three years for new schools in Cartwright, Kenmount Terrace, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, and Pilley’s Island.
• $50,000 for planning of a new high school in Paradise.

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 The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, will deliver remarks during the luncheon of the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2024 Municipal Symposium: Unlocking Excellence tomorrow, Friday, May 3.

The luncheon will take place at the Quality Hotel and Suites, 100 Trans-Canada Hwy, Gander, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

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The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, will be available to the media to discuss the allocation through Budget 2024 of $3 million to increase student assistants in the K-12 public education system. Minister Howell will be joined by Jerry Earle, President of NAPE.

The availability will take place outside the House of Assembly, Confederation Building, at 1:00 p.m.

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The electronic monitoring program is being expanded to the Clarenville region effective today, May 1. This region spans from Bellevue to Port Blandford along the Trans-Canada Highway and all of the Bonavista Peninsula.

Electronic monitoring provides enhanced supervision for offenders on probation and conditional sentence orders where the court has imposed the electronic monitoring condition. It also enhances the supervision of those on a temporary absence from correctional facilities where electronic monitoring is deemed appropriate.

Offenders in the program wear ankle bracelets that provide 24/7 location data to probation officers to help enforce conditions such as curfews and no-contact orders. Electronic monitoring also allows offenders to work and support their families and be contributing members of society.

Expanding the program to the Clarenville region is designed to increase public and victim safety in the region. For example, one feature of the technology involves alerting authorities when an individual breaches an area they are restricted from entering or leaving, known as exclusion and inclusion zones. The size of these zones can vary from a single building to a larger geographical area. This helps protect survivors of intimate partner violence and other violent offences as well as ensuring offenders abide by court-ordered conditions.

Data generated from the expansion to the Clarenville region will inform future expansion plans to offer the program in additional areas of the province.

Budget 2024 – Transforming Our Health. Our Economy. Our Province. provides $293,000 for the electronic monitoring program to help lower levels of recidivism and improve safety for victims, staff and the public.

This is the first expansion of the electronic monitoring program since it was launched in 2020 and was partially made possible by using existing resources at the Clarenville probation office.  Electronic monitoring is already offered in Labrador and on the Northeast Avalon.

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“Electronic monitoring strengthens our ability to protect victims and at the same time helps holds people accountable for their actions. The Clarenville expansion is another step toward bringing this public safety tool to more areas where we have the technology and infrastructure to make it happen.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General

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Learn more
Follow us on X @GovNL and @JPS_GovNL.

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The Provincial Government is moving forward with amendments to the Tourist Accommodations Act.

The amendments will require short-term accommodation hosts who list their primary residences to register with the Provincial Government. Additionally, short-term rental platforms will be required to remove any listing that is not registered and to share information about their listings with the Provincial Government.

These measures will provide the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with a more complete picture of the scope of short-term rentals throughout the province.

The Tourist Accommodations Act received Royal Assent in the House of Assembly in November 2020, replacing the former Tourism Establishments Act. Prior to its introduction in the House of Assembly, an online questionnaire was administered that engaged tourism and hospitality stakeholders on short-term accommodations in the province. Since then, the department has been regularly engaged with key stakeholders, such as Hospitality NL and Municipalities NL.

Since April 2023, over 2,200 accommodations have registered with the Province. In March 2024, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation extended the registration deadline to June 30 to allow adequate time to process the registrations and update the various partner platforms.

Further details on the Tourist Accommodations Act, including the regulations and how to register your short-term accommodation can be found online.

Quotes
“Tourism and hospitality stakeholders in our province have advocated for a better balance between licensed and unlicensed accommodations. With these measures, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Recreation gains oversight of all providers of overnight stays, empowering them to regulate and enhance our visitors’ experiences. We remain committed to collaborating with stakeholders as we progress in implementing and assessing these changes.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

“Hospitality NL and its members welcome the amendments to the Tourism Accommodations Act. We had advocated to the Province for meaningful adjustments to the legislation that levels the playing field for all short-term rentals. These amendments will help ensure platforms are accountable and contributing to the tourism and hospitality industry as equal players. Providing the best ‘Newfoundland and Labrador experience’ requires all operators to work together.”
Deborah Bourden
Chair, Hospitality NL

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Learn more
New Tourist Accommodations Act and Regulations

Proclaimed New Tourist Accommodations Bill Introduced

Tourist Accommodations Bill

Minister Davis Announces Framework to Address Short Term Accommodations

Engaging Stakeholders on Modernizing the Tourist Establishments Act

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The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education:

Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to highlight our government’s efforts to improve access to early learning and child care in the province.

These efforts have been recognized in a recent report by the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development, which ranks Newfoundland and Labrador fourth in the country amongst all provinces and territories when comparing governance, funding, access, the early learning environment, and accountability.

Speaker, our government has been listening and responding to the needs of families, service providers, and the early learning workforce.

We have implemented recruitment and retention initiatives for early childhood educators; we have provided incentives and funding to increase the number of early learning and child care spaces; and we are continuing to ensure that regulated child care is high quality, affordable and inclusive.

Speaker, there are currently 9,100 early learning and child care spaces operating at $10 a day or less in this province, and a further 2,200 spaces are in various stages of development.

Speaker, Budget 2024 has allocated close to $200 million to early learning and child care. We will continue to work with partners throughout the province so that all families are able to access the early learning and child care services that they need.

Thank you.

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The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs:

Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize May 5 to 11 as Municipal Awareness Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Today in our province we have 270 incorporated municipalities who play a vital role in improving the overall well-being of residents by maintaining operations and providing important services throughout communities.

Speaker, on Friday, I will be joining Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and municipal leaders at the annual Municipal Symposium, Unlocking Excellence, which is taking place in the scenic District of Gander.

I applaud all mayors, councillors and staff for their ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Their devotion to strengthening communities is truly unwavering.

As a government, we acknowledge that municipalities are facing challenges and Budget 2024 includes key funding initiatives to help address those challenges:

• $50 million over five years to support water and wastewater projects.
• More than $160 million for Municipal Operating Grants, Special Assistance Grants, Community Enhancement Employment Program, and Canada Community Building Fund.
• $400,000 increase for municipal training.
• $400,000 increase for municipal fire departments to support their response to incidents outside their municipal boundary.

I look forward to continuing to work together with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and municipal leaders throughout the province on our shared goal to build more sustainable and vibrant municipalities. I also encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to celebrate the work and leadership of the municipal sector in our province during Municipal Awareness Week.

Thank you.

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