Government of Newfoundland News

Executive Council

The Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, today released a mid-way progress report on the province’s Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Action Plans.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will join the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board, for an announcement today regarding Minister Johnson’s political future at 2:45 a.m. in front of the House of Assembly.

Environment and Conservation
Executive Council

Tenders have been awarded and site work is set to begin later this month on phase two of site remediation in Hopedale, the Honourable Vaughn Granter, Minister of Environment and Conservation announced today.

Education

A tender valued at close to $440,000 has been awarded to BDW Roofing Inc. of Stephenville to undertake a partial roof and window replacement at E.A. Butler All Grade in McKay’s.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced a number of new measures today to provide cod harvesters more opportunity to sell their catch and to promote increased use of available quota. As a one-year pilot project, the Provincial Government will now permit seafood buyers from outside the province to purchase 3Ps Atlantic Cod from local harvesters. Additionally, active provincial plants that formerly processed cod and other groundfish will be able to reinstate their processing authorization for this year. The Provincial Government will also temporarily authorize provincially-based retail processors to market their cod outside the province to stimulate more sales.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Provincial Government is investing over $40,000 to enhance firefighting capabilities in the District of St. Barbe. The funding will be used for the purchase of firefighting equipment for communities throughout the district.

Health and Community Services

The Department of Health and Community Services wishes to advise that the Provincial Drug Plan Assessment Office in Stephenville will be closed today (Wednesday, September 3). Individuals requiring assistance can contact 1-888-222-0533.

Executive Council
Finance

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and unions representing employees of the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) today announced an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the plan, which includes a commitment to changes in the governance of the PSPP by negotiating the terms of a joint trusteeship agreement. Current retirees will not be affected and there will be a five-year transition period for changes to early retirement. Changes to the pension plan, including an increase in contribution rates, will come into effect on January 1, 2015.

Natural Resources
Executive Council

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced that the Provincial Government will be undertaking a biogas electricity generation pilot program for the province.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, will make an announcement today (Tuesday, September 2) regarding pension reform. The Premier and Minister will be joined by Carol Furlong, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE); Bert Blundon, Secretary Treasurer of NAPE; Debbie Forward, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union; Wayne Lucas, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Newfoundland and Labrador Division; Virginia Whitten, President of the Association of Allied Health Professionals; and Jabez Lane, Business Manager with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Advanced Education and Skills

The coming year brings opportunity for students to excel in their studies. Today, the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, welcomed post-secondary students to the 2014-15 academic year.

Education

With a new school year beginning this week, the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, is welcoming students and staff back to class; encouraging parents to get involved in their school, and urging all motorists to obey the safety laws around school busing and school zones.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

On Friday, August 29, 2014, under the authority of Section 153(1) of the Elections Act, 1991, the Official Addition of the Votes was conducted in the St. George’s - Stephenville East district. The following are the official results from the August 26, 2014 by-election.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Provincial Government is committed to improving municipal infrastructure across Newfoundland and Labrador. As a result, $1.3 million in cost-shared funding is being invested in the District of The Straits – White Bay North to upgrade the water system in the Town of St. Anthony and for lift station projects in the Town of Roddickton-Bide Arm.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced the appointment of Tom Lawrence as Interim CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will participate in the 55th Annual Premiers’ Conference of the Council of the Federation news conference today (Friday, August 29).

Tourism, Culture and Recreation

The Honourable Tony Cornect, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, will attend the centennial celebrations for our Lady of Mercy Heritage Church in Port au Port on Sunday (August 31). The minister will speak at the gathering at Our Lady of Mercy Gymnasium following the mass at 5:00 p.m.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works is advising motorists that on Tuesday, September 2 repairs will begin to the overpass above Groves Road on the Outer Ring Road. The repairs are expected to take three to four weeks and require traffic to be reduced to one lane.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Fire and Emergency Services–Newfoundland and Labrador (FES-NL) is monitoring Hurricane Cristobal. The recent update by the Canadian Hurricane Centre advises residents in coastal areas on the eastern portion of the island to watch for changing elevations in water levels outside of the natural high and low tide cycle.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Two provincial mussel farming operations will develop and implement new software to enhance operations with help from the Provincial Government. The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced $30,180 through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program today to help Sunrise Fish Farms Inc. in Green Bay and its sister company Connaigre Fish Farms Inc. in the Coast of Bays pursue the project.