Government of Newfoundland News

Environment and Conservation

The Department of Environment and Conservation advises that Seaward’s Bridge at the Little Come By Chance River, near Goobies in the T’Railway Provincial Park, will close to all pedestrian, ATV, and vehicular traffic effective Monday, August 25.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Provincial Government is investing over $20,000 to enhance firefighting capabilities in the communities of Hopedale and Nain. The funding will be used for the purchase of a new all-terrain vehicle (ATV) with tracks to transport firefighting equipment for the community of Hopedale, and four sets of personal protective equipment for Nain.

Advanced Education and Skills

Keith Russell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, will speak at the Conservation Corps’ annual Partner Thank-You Day tomorrow (Friday, August 22). The ceremony will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre, 7 Conception Bay Highway, Conception Bay South.

Transportation and Works

The Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister of Transportation and Works, will be joined by Fogo Island and Change Islands residents to celebrate the keel laying of the area’s new ferry tomorrow (Friday, August 22).

Health and Community Services

Patients and staff of the Bonavista Peninsula Health Centre will benefit from $407,900 in funding for equipment and infrastructure upgrades.

Executive Council
Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

An investment of $2.9 million in cost-shared capital works funding will provide improvements to streets and sidewalks, upgrades to water and sewer systems, new recreational infrastructure, and new fire protection equipment for the District of Humber East.

Tourism, Culture and Recreation: The Rooms Corporation

In commemoration of the centennial of Newfoundland’s engagement in the First World War, renowned British military historian Martin Middlebrook will be at The Rooms August 26-27 to give two public talks on the war. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Mr. Middlebrook is the author of numerous books relating to the First and Second World Wars and the 1983 Falklands conflict. His first book, The First Day on the Somme (1971), is an account of the events of the first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916.

Tourism, Culture and Recreation: The Rooms Corporation

The public is advised that The Rooms is open today (Thursday, August 21) for regular business hours. The issues resulting from yesterday’s water main break have been resolved.

Education

Site work will begin soon in preparation for the construction of a new school in Gander, following the recent award of a tender, valued at close to $2.3 million, to LSG Construction of Gander.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ed Ring, has released his Report A-2014-010 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ed Ring, has released his Report A-2014-009 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

Tourism, Culture and Recreation: The Rooms Corporation

The public is advised that due to a water main break, The Rooms will remain closed until further notice. Please visit The Rooms website, www.therooms.ca, for updates.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Advance voting for the St. George’s - Stephenville East by-election took place today, August 19, 2014. The polls closed at 8:00 p.m. The preliminary number of votes cast is as follows

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced several new initiatives to support building Aboriginal capacity and expertise within government.

Executive Council

Tom Hedderson, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier, will address delegates at the 4th Annual Atlantic Conjugate Margins Conference tomorrow (Wednesday, August 20) at 8:05 a.m. The conference address takes place in the Avalon Ballroom at the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre in St. John’s.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works is advising that, as a result of heavy rain, there is currently a significant amount of water on the Bay d’Espoir Highway, Route 360 (kilometre 55), and on the Trans Canada Highway west of Red Cliff (on Route 1 approximately four kilometres from Grand Falls-Windsor).

Child, Youth and Family Services

With a continued focus on strengthening child care throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government will increase the toddler rate under the Child Care Services Subsidy Program. Effective September 1, 2014, the program’s toddler rate will increase from $30 to $33 per day for those children aged 24 months to under 36 months who are availing of regulated child care services.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and his Cabinet will meet in Corner Brook August 20-21. A media photo opportunity will take place tomorrow (Wednesday, August 20) at 9:00 a.m. at the Office of the Premier, Sir Richard Squires Building, 10th floor.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Elections Newfoundland and Labrador would like to remind the residents of St. George’s – Stephenville East that Advance Poll voting is taking place today (Tuesday, August 19, 2014) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador, was joined today by Ray Hunter, MHA for Grand Falls-Windsor - Green Bay South, to announce a new fire truck and firefighting equipment for the district.