Government of Newfoundland News

Executive Council
Natural Resources

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today formally recognized and celebrated first nickel production at the Long Harbour processing plant.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will speak at the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council conference, Playing to Win, at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, November 20). The conference is being held at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland, St. John’s.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Advance voting for the Humber East and Trinity-Bay de Verde by-elections took place today, November 18, 2014. The polls closed at 8:00 p.m.

Transportation and Works

The Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works, will speak to members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association at a luncheon tomorrow (Wednesday, November 19). The event will begin at 12:00 p.m. at the Mazol Shriners Club of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is located at 530 Topsail Road in St. John’s.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will speak at an event tomorrow (Wednesday, November 19) to formally recognize and celebrate first nickel production at the Long Harbour processing plant. The event will take place at the processing plant in the product packaging area beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Service NL

The Honourable Tony Cornect, Minister of Service NL, will speak at a National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims event tomorrow (Wednesday, November 19). The ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Motor Registration Division building, 149 Smallwood Drive, Mount Pearl.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works advises that the MV Northern Ranger will be concluding passenger service this week due to the development of ice in Lake Melville.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will speak at the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) Women’s Entrepreneurship Day breakfast tomorrow (Wednesday, November 19). The event will take place at 8:30 a.m. at Clovelly, St. John’s.

Transportation and Works

Mr. Speaker, on Remembrance Day, I had the pleasure of attending a ceremony at the Royal Canadian Legion on Bell Island, where I joined residents, families, legionnaires and veterans to pay respect to men and women in service and to recognize the 100th anniversary of World War I.

Child, Youth and Family Services

Mr. Speaker, our government continues to revitalize the child protection system in the province through enhancing out-of-home care options for children and youth. Fostering provides temporary and sometimes longer-term care for children and youth who are unable to live with their own families. Foster parents are key members of a team dedicated to helping children and youth through difficult situations by offering a supportive, nurturing and safe environment.

Education and Early Childhood Development

Mr. Speaker, from November 9 to 12, I had the great privilege to lead the Canadian delegation at the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where over 1,000 delegates from 140 countries participated.

Transportation and Works

The front entrance of the Confederation Building, East Block, reopened today (Tuesday, November 18) and will remain open for the rest of the week due to forecasted high winds that will prevent a‎ crane from completing required work.

Advanced Education and Skills

The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, is attending Destination Canada 2014 in Paris, France, today to help attract skilled workers in order to meet the province’s growing demand for skilled labour. The job fair takes place at Espace Charenton from November 18 to 20.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Elections Newfoundland and Labrador would like to remind the residents of Humber East and Trinity-Bay de Verde that Advance Poll voting is taking place today, Tuesday, November 18, 2014, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Education and Early Childhood Development

The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, and Tom Hedderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister, will join the students of St. John Bosco School as they celebrate National Bullying Awareness Week. The event will take place tomorrow (Tuesday, November 18) at 9:30 a.m. at St. John Bosco, 75 Linegar Street, Shea Heights. Minister Sullivan and MHA Hedderson will read a story to a Grade 4 and Grade 6 class that highlights the importance of bullying awareness.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in this Honourable House to provide an update on the provincial municipal fiscal framework. In 2013, government committed to a comprehensive review of the fiscal framework and we remain on target to complete our work to inform Budget 2015.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, National Addictions Awareness Week is being recognized from November 17 to 21 in Newfoundland and Labrador. This week provides an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about substance abuse prevention, to talk about treatment and recovery, and to bring forward solutions for change.

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, on June 4, the day before the House adjourned, police officers were targeted while on duty in the city of Moncton, New Brunswick. Two RCMP officers were injured, and three lost their lives: Constable David Ross, Constable Fabrice Georges Gevaudan, and Constable Douglas James Larche. I had the honour of attending their funeral service on behalf of the government and people of Newfoundland and Labrador – a day I will not soon forget. Sadly and tragically, others who serve to protect us here in Canada have also lost their lives in the months since then.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Provincial Government is reaffirming its commitment to reducing poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador with the announcement of an engagement process that will inform the development of the Poverty Reduction Strategy’s next action plan.

Justice and Public Safety

The Provincial Government announced today that fire departments in communities in the Corner Brook and Bay of Islands region will continue to have the option of receiving 911 fire call relay and verification services from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) until January 1, 2016.