Government of Newfoundland News

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Sixty-seven pieces of Crown land located at various sites throughout the Avalon Peninsula are being made available through a public draw. These lots, which can be accessed from the Salmonier Line, Roaches Line and the Argentia Access Road, range in price from $25,600 to $65,000 and will be sold as Crown grants (outright ownership) with the full price due upon signature of the title document.

Natural Resources
Executive Council

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources, confirmed today that formal notification has been received from Cliffs Natural Resources that they intend to proceed with closure of its mining and processing operations at the Scully Iron Ore Mine in Wabush.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development: The Rooms Corporation

The Rooms is closed to the public until further notice due to water pressure issues. We apologize for the inconvenience. Updates will be provided as they become available at www.therooms.ca.

Finance

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is continuing the $15 million Home Heating Rebate this winter with applications for the 2014-15 season now available on the Department of Finance website.

Natural Resources

Through the work of the Provincial Government’s fire management staff, the number of hectares burned in the province during this year’s forest fire season was kept to a minimum. Only 12,712 hectares were burned which is considerably less than the average 35,015 hectares. The province recorded 122 fire starts in 2014, which is on par with the 10-year average of 120.

Health and Community Services

The provincial seasonal influenza vaccine program has expanded and is now available free of charge to all residents age six months and older through physician and public health clinics. In addition, for the first time in this province, authorized pharmacists will also be able to provide the influenza vaccination. Pharmacists will be providing vaccines free of charge to Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program clients and other patients will pay a fee for this service.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are reminded that Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend. At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 2, clocks should be turned back one hour.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will join veterans and members of the armed forces for the Fly the Flag of Remembrance ceremony to launch the 2014 Poppy Campaign. The event is taking place in the lobby of East Block Confederation Building, tomorrow (Friday, October 31) at 12:00 p.m.

Transportation and Works

The Department of Transportation and Works is advising that the last day that freight will be accepted in Lewisporte for guaranteed delivery to coastal communities of Labrador is Friday, November 7. The deadline for freight to be accepted in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is Friday, November 14.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development: Research and Development Corporation

The Research & Development Corporation (RDC) is investing approximately $1 million in support of graduate and doctoral researchers performing oceans-related research at Memorial University of Newfoundland. The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, attended the Ocean Industries Student Research Awards (OISRA) ceremony today at Memorial University, where 16 selected student researchers were presented with awards.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development: Sport Newfoundland and Labrador

The Newfoundland and Labrador Volleyball Association (NLVA) will be hosting the Beresford Ltd. VolleyFest 2014, October 31-November 1 in St. John’s and vicinity.

Justice and Public Safety

The Provincial Government is investing approximately $33,000 for the purchase of firefighting equipment for communities in the District of Humber Valley.

Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

Advance voting for the Conception Bay South by-election took place today, October 29, 2014. The polls closed at 8:00 p.m. The preliminary number of votes cast is as follows:

Executive Council

The Honourable Judy Manning, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, will address the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards tomorrow (Thursday, October 30). Taking place at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John’s, the event starts at 6:00 p.m. with the minister speaking at approximately 7:45 p.m.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation, will speak at the Ocean Industries Student Research Awards ceremony tomorrow (Thursday, October 30).

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, will be at St. Patrick’s Mercy Home in St. John’s tomorrow (Thursday, October 30) to speak at the opening of a conference entitled Ethics, Ageism and Cognitive Impairment in Long-term Care. The event begins at 9:45 a.m.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, will attend the Atlantic Summit on Healthcare and Drug Cost Sustainability tomorrow (Thursday, October 30) at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

An age-friendly park, complete with walking trails, benches, green spaces, gazebos, a tobogganing hill, and a community garden was officially opened in Clarenville today as the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, joined the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and MHA for Trinity North, and community leaders and partners, to mark the completion of a project three years in the making.

Finance

The 2013-14 Public Accounts, the audited financial statements of the province for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, released today confirm that the deficit for the 2013-14 fiscal year was $388.6 million, a decrease of $175.2 million from the original forecasted deficit of $563.8 million. The change can be attributed to a slight increase in revenues stemming from offshore oil royalties and a growth in personal income, combined with a reduction in expenditures.

Health and Community Services

The Provincial Government is advising that the MCP offices located at 22 High Street, Grand Falls–Windsor, will be closing today (Wednesday, October 29) at 2:00 p.m. due to water main maintenance being carried out by the town.