Government of Newfoundland News

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The International Fire Services Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) is a peer-driven, self-governing organization that accredits fire service certification programs around the world. Recently, during the Fire and Emergency Training School, the province’s fire service training programs once again received international accreditation by IFSAC.

Fisheries and Aquaculture
Innovation, Business and Rural Development

The Provincial Government is providing approximately $80,000 to implement a software-based Sea Lice Decision Support System within the province, a project that supports the advancing of best practices in aquaculture. The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced the funding today, which will help the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association establish and test this powerful tool for monitoring sea lice prevalence and evaluating control programs.

Natural Resources

The Department of Natural Resources is advising residents to be cautious given recent black bear sightings in and around the Town of Botwood. Conservation officers with the department have placed traps in areas where black bears have been reported and recently relocated a bear from Botwood to a remote area.

Executive Council

The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced changes to his Cabinet today during a swearing-in ceremony at Government House. The following Cabinet appointments are effective immediately.

Advanced Education and Skills

The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, attended the July 11 Forum of Labour Market Ministers in Prince Edward Island to discuss issues affecting the labour market, both nationally and within individual provinces and territories. The Honourable Jason Kenney, federal Minister of Employment and Social Development, also attended this meeting, giving an opportunity to discuss recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program and the new Canada Job Grant.

Child, Youth and Family Services

The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services advises that the new child care initiative announcement scheduled for today (Thursday, July 17) in the Media Centre, East Block, Confederation Building, will be postponed to a later date.

Executive Council

A swearing-in ceremony for Cabinet will take place at 2:00 p.m. today (Thursday, July 17), in the Cochrane Room at Government House.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, together with Dennis O’Keefe, Mayor of the City of St. John’s, participated in an official opening and tree-planting ceremony for the new $3 million Southlands Community Centre today.

Executive Council
Advanced Education and Skills

Information gathered from extensive consultations across the province to develop a Population Growth Strategy has been released today. What We Heard: A Summary of Comments, Suggestions and Ideas on Population Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador is a compilation of the opinions of residents and stakeholders on how to best sustain communities, grow the province’s population and support labour market needs and economic prosperity. Feedback from these consultations is also being used to support the development of the Workforce Development Strategy.

Innovation, Business and Rural Development: Research and Development Corporation

The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation (RDC), today announced appointments to the RDC Board of Directors.

Health and Community Services

Over $450,000 is being provided for upgrades and enhancements to the Lakeside Homes long-term care facility in Gander.

Transportation and Works

Contracts totalling $1.8 million have been awarded to Nortech Construction and Mallay’s Industrial Services Ltd. for road and bridge improvements on the Burin Peninsula. The work associated with both of these contracts will be completed this year.

Natural Resources

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, will attend the 2014 Conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers’ of Agriculture in Winnipeg, Manitoba, starting today (Wednesday, July 16).

Health and Community Services

The site of the new mental health facility that will replace the Waterford Hospital has been selected and preparations are beginning for the development of the property.

Child, Youth and Family Services

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services, will announce a new child care initiative as part of the 10-year child care strategy, Caring For Our Future.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, will join representatives from the City of St. John’s for the official opening of the Southlands Community Centre tomorrow (Thursday, July 17). The event is taking place at the new community centre at 40 Teakwood Drive, and will get underway at 11:00 a.m.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ed Ring, has released his Report A-2014-008 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, will announce funding for the provincial aquaculture industry tomorrow (Thursday, July 17) at 10:00 a.m. The announcement will take place at the Centre for Aquaculture Health and Development, located on Cormier Ave in St. Alban’s.

Justice

The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Justice, today announced that James Carroll, Member of the Order of Merit (M.O.M.), has been appointed as Deputy Chief of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary while Marlene Jesso has been promoted to Superintendent. Mr. Carroll fills a position that was left vacant when Bill Janes was appointed Chief of Police in February.

Education

Queen Elizabeth Regional High School in Conception Bay South will soon have new windows, following the recent award of a tender, valued at close to $524,000, to Eastern Contracting Ltd. of Mount Pearl.