Government of Newfoundland News

The in-person public engagement session on the proposed Indian Arm Brook protected area, originally scheduled for November 1, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, November 22 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The session will be hosted by the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC) at the Lewisporte Lions Club on Bowater Ave, Lewisporte.

An additional session is scheduled for Thursday, November 23 at 10:00 a.m. at the Norris Arm Heritage and Arts Centre, 202 Citizens Drive, Norris Arm.

Interested participants are requested to register for the sessions through the EngageNL website to ensure compliance with capacity limits.

Feedback on the proposed Indian Arm Brook ecological reserve can also be submitted through an online questionnaire or by email to werac@gov.nl.ca.

In October, the Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council commenced a multi-year public engagement process on ten proposed protected areas, beginning with site-specific engagement on the proposed Indian Arm Brook ecological reserve. The in-person sessions are the first step in this multi-phased project.

WERAC will report back to the Provincial Government on the results of this engagement process and make a recommendation on whether to proceed with interim protections on the proposed ecological reserve. Engagement is crucial to determining the Provincial Government’s next steps for protecting these sites.

More details about the proposed Indian Arm Brook ecological reserve can be found here.

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The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will take part in an event tomorrow (Friday, November 10) to mark the completion of construction of the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital.

The event will take place at the new hospital, located on 100 Health Care Crescent, Corner Brook, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

A tour of a section of the new hospital will be provided for media following the event.

Premier Furey will be joined by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and MHA for Corner Brook.

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The MCP office at 22 High Street in Grand Falls-Windsor will be closed for the remainder of the day due to unforeseen circumstances. A further update will be provided tomorrow.

Residents who require MCP services are encouraged to call the St. John’s office at 709-758-1600.

The Department of Health and Community Services apologizes for the inconvenience.

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The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, today announced more than $200,000 in scholarships for 201 recent high school graduates as part of the Provincial Scholarship Program. The program recognizes high school graduates throughout Newfoundland and Labrador for their hard work, dedication, and academic achievements.

Scholarships include one Constable W.C. Moss Scholarship, 120 Electoral District Scholarships and 79 Centenary of Responsible Government Scholarships, all valued at $1,000, as well as one Junior Jubilee Scholarship, valued at $2,500.

The Junior Jubilee Scholarship is awarded to the student with the highest scholarship score in the province. This year’s recipient is Arielle Connors, a graduate of Queen Elizabeth Regional High.

The Constable W.C. Moss Scholarship is awarded to a child of a member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (active, retired or deceased) with the highest scholarship score (other than the Junior Jubilee Scholarship recipient). This year’s recipient is Natalie Walsh, a graduate of Pasadena Academy.

The 120 Electoral District Scholarships are awarded to three high school graduates in each electoral district with the highest scholarship score (other than the Junior Jubilee and the Constable W.C. Moss Scholarships recipients).

The Centenary of Responsible Government Scholarships are awarded to the remaining students province-wide with the highest scholarship score – other than the Junior Jubilee, Constable W.C. Moss and the Electoral District Scholarships recipients.

A complete list of Provincial Scholarship winners and information on how scholarship recipients can receive their provincial scholarships can be found here.

Quote
“Congratulations to all graduates receiving a Provincial Scholarship this year. I admire your dedication and determination in reaching your academic achievements. Students in our province demonstrate commitment and desire to learn and further their education. I wish all scholarship winners and all of our students the best of luck in their future endeavors.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education

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2023 Provincial Scholarship Winners

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The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable Paul Pike, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, will present the Annual Seniors of Distinction Awards tomorrow (Thursday, November 9).

The ceremony will take place at the Emera Innovation Exchange, Memorial University Signal Hill Campus, St. John’s beginning at 10:30 a.m.

This event will be streamed live on Facebook.

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Weigh station bypass service is now available in Newfoundland and Labrador, allowing compliant commercial carriers to bypass weigh scales.

The bypass service, provided by Drivewyze PreClear, uses GPS transponder technology to notify an on-duty Highway Enforcement Officer that a registered vehicle is approaching the scales. The driver receives a hands-free audible and visual in-cab notification advising when they can bypass the scales. Commercial carriers subscribing to the service are rewarded for their safety ratings with weigh station bypass privileges.

The program saves trucking companies time and money by reducing delays and fuel costs when a truck pulls in and out of a station. It also reduces congestion at scale facilities and allows officers to focus inspections on vehicles with a higher likelihood of having defects or compliance issues.

The Newfoundland and Labrador service allows all Canadian-plated subscribed trucks to have bypass opportunities at six locations throughout the province, including:

• Channel-Port aux Basques, Trans-Canada Highway;
• Foxtrap, Trans-Canada Highway;
• Goobies, Trans-Canada Highway;
• Grand Falls-Windsor, Trans-Canada Highway;
• Labrador West, Route 500; and
• Pynn’s Brook, Trans-Canada Highway.

Newfoundland and Labrador is the third province to offer this service, joining Ontario and Alberta.

Quotes
“Weigh scale sites represent the busiest areas for commercial traffic. We decided to embrace PreClear weigh station bypass services as a way to help reduce congestion at scale locations, reduce greenhouse gases created from idling vehicles, increase efficiency for carriers and allow for more focused inspections.”
Honourable Sarah Stoodley
Minister of Digital Government and Service NL

“The bypass service increases driver satisfaction because they avoid the lineups and wait times at weigh stations. Weigh stations of all sizes create shipment delays because of congestion associated with high volumes. Bypass eases that, while allowing enforcement officers to concentrate their efforts on vehicles that truly do need inspecting.”
Brian Mofford, Vice President of Government Experience
Drivewyze

“It is great to see Newfoundland and Labrador become the first Atlantic Province to adopt the DriveWyze system. We are hopeful the adoption of this tech platform will improve efficiency and reduce delays for our industry, while contributing to greater road safety on Newfoundland and Labrador’s highways.”
Chris McKee, Executive Director
Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association

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Learn more
Drivewyze PreClear

Public Advisory: Electronic Logging Devices Mandatory Effective December 1, 2023

Province Supporting Initiatives to Strengthen Commercial Vehicle Safety

Public Advisory: Electronic Logging Devices Becoming Mandatory for Federally-Regulated Commercial Carriers

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The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced a new poverty reduction plan that focuses on improving the overall well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

The new three-year phased plan is an important element of achieving the province’s goal of becoming one of Canada’s healthiest provinces by 2031, and is aligned with recommendations from Health Accord NL. To help ensure Provincial Government programs better meet the current needs of residents, the plan adds to other work currently underway, such as the review of means and income-tested programs like the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program and the Income Support Program.

The plan is supported by an investment that will grow to $85 million annually after three years. This is in addition to more than $900 million the Provincial Government allocated in Budget 2023 for social programming and support for lower income families and individuals.

This poverty reduction plan was informed by community stakeholders, Indigenous and municipal governments, and experts, including people with lived experience. As a result, the plan has four key focus areas and associated actions to better support the well-being of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. These include:

Reducing Childhood Poverty

• Expanding the Prenatal-Infant Nutritional Supplement up to age five and renaming it the Early Childhood Nutrition Supplement to better reflect its expanded scope;
• Increasing the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit by 300 per cent; and
• Providing additional funding to ensure school lunch programs are available in all Pre-Kindergarten and K-9 schools.

Creating Meaningful and Sustainable Employment

• Continuing the Employment Stability Pilot province-wide; and
• Providing enhanced programming to train and connect non-employment insurance eligible individuals to employment.

Improving Income 

• Streamlining and improving the Income Support program benefits structure beginning with an immediate increase of $50 per month for the comfort allowance to a total of $175 monthly for those individuals staying in temporary accommodations such as emergency homeless shelters; and
• Implementing a new targeted Basic Income Program for people age 60 to 64 currently in receipt of Income Support and the Community Supports Program through the Department of Health and Community Services.

Supporting Seniors

• Implementing a second targeted Basic Income Program for people aged 60 to 64 who currently receive Income Support and the Community Supports Program through the Department of Health and Community Services. These same individuals will receive an increase in payments to match federal seniors benefits, which they will receive at age 65. This will allow for more adequate and stable financial supports.
• A targeted poverty reduction plan for seniors will be released in the coming months. This will be informed by further stakeholder conversations to acquire more data.
• The ongoing work of the Cabinet Committee on Seniors will continue and it is anticipated that further measures to help seniors manage the higher cost of living will soon be released.

Premier Furey was joined at the announcement by the Honourable Paul Pike, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, as well as Danielle Seward, Executive Director of the Single Parent Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Laura Winters, CEO of Stella’s Circle.

Quotes
“As a government, we are strongly focused on creating a shift in how we collectively make life better for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, with a heightened focus on the social determinants of health in our spending and policy decisions. With today’s announcement of a new poverty reduction plan, we are taking the next critical step forward in our journey to further improve the health and well-being of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Our new poverty reduction plan focuses on addressing important social determinants of health, income and food security. Our focus was developed through listening to people with lived experience of poverty, community stakeholders and front-line staff. In addition to the actions announced today, we will continue to work with our community partners and across government to remove barriers for people to access the supports and services they need to improve their social well-being and health outcomes.”
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development

“The challenges facing today’s single-parent families have never been higher, due to concerns surrounding food insecurity and the increased cost of living. The Single Parents Association of Newfoundland and Labrador applauds the steps taken in today’s announcement to provide additional supports to those who are struggling province-wide. As our organization works to empower single-parent families in terms of affordability, food security and employment training, these changes will increase our ability to provide much-needed resources in their time of need.”
Danielle Seward
Executive Director, Single Parent Association of Newfoundland and Labrador

“At Stella’s Circle, we are heartened to see increased access to resources for people marginalized by poverty. Centering voices of lived expertise builds better policies and we welcome system change which addresses barriers to better respond to individuals in need. We are very pleased to see this thoughtful response to community advocacy toward poverty reduction that empowers individuals and families in our province to realize more independent and inclusive lives.”
Laura Winters
CEO, Stella’s Circle

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Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development

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The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will announce a new poverty reduction plan tomorrow (Wednesday, November 8).

The announcement will take place at the Ches Penney Family YMCA, 35 Ridge Road, St. John’s at 2:00 p.m. A technical briefing for media will take place at 1:30 p.m.

Premier Furey will be joined by the Honourable Paul Pike, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, as well as Danielle Seward, Executive Director of the Single Parent Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Laura Winters, Chief Executive Officer of Stella’s Circle.

The event will be livestreamed on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Facebook account.

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The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, met yesterday with representatives of the Save Our People Action Committee (SOPAC) to discuss the Provincial Government’s efforts regarding road safety in the province, particularly as it relates to moose-vehicle collision prevention. Minister Abbott was joined in the meeting by Lucy Stoyles, MHA for Mount Pearl North.

The Provincial Government remains committed to investing in initiatives aimed at helping to minimize moose-vehicle collisions in Newfoundland and Labrador. This includes providing annual support of $30,000 to SOPAC for its Moose Sightings Hotline and public awareness campaigns. Additional measures include an annual investment of approximately $2.5 million for brush cutting efforts along provincial roadways, as well as signage.

Building upon previous moose fencing pilots throughout the province, the Provincial Government also committed to continuing to explore moose fencing as a possible measure to help improve safety on provincial highways. A vegetation suppression program is also being explored, which will help slow growth in areas where brush clearing has occurred.

Quotes
“The safety of the motoring public on provincial highways is a top priority for our government, including mitigating moose-vehicle collisions. I was delighted to meet with SOPAC officials to discuss our ongoing relationship, and to discuss initiatives to help reduce moose-vehicle incidents, as well as how we can continue to build upon this relationship. We are continuing to explore additional brush clearing efforts, vegetation suppression and other sections of highway for potential moose fencing.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“We were pleased to meet with Minister Abbott about our shared priority of road safety and our work to help reduce moose-vehicle accidents. We know that our collective efforts can make a difference, even if it’s one accident that we help prevent. We look forward to our continued collaboration on this important topic that affects all residents of the province.”
Linda Bishop
Chairperson, SOPAC

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The installation of the Lieutenant Governor designate, Joan Marie Aylward, will take place on Tuesday, November 14 at 11:30 a.m. in the House of Assembly. The ceremony will be carried live on television over the House of Assembly Channel.

Following the ceremony and receiving line, the Lieutenant Governor will proceed to the front entrance of the Confederation Building, East Block, where she will receive the Vice-Regal Salute and inspect the Guard of Honour.

The House of Assembly Broadcast Centre will provide a media feed and media representatives are asked to be in place by 11:00 a.m. on the day of the ceremony.

Media intending to cover the installation of the Lieutenant Governor are asked to contact the Communications Branch at 709-729-4266 or 709-687-2501 by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, November 9.

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The House of Assembly advises that a meeting of the Management Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m.

The meeting will be broadcast live via the House of Assembly television channel and streamed via the House of Assembly website. As provided for in subsection 19(1) of the House of Assembly Accountability Integrity and Administration Act, an in camera session will follow the televised portion of the meeting.

Briefing materials for the meeting will be available on the website at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday. The agenda for the televised meeting follows.

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Media contact
Mark Jerrett
Policy & Communications Analyst
House of Assembly
709-729-6943
markjerrett@gov.nl.ca

House of Assembly Management Commission
Agenda

Date:              November 8, 2023
Time:             9:30 a.m.
Location:      Videoconference

Televised Meeting

1. Approval of Minutes:
   a. August 23, 2023
   b. October 15, 2023 (in camera)
2. Speaker’s Reports:
   a. Rulings on Allowance Use
   b. Urgent Financial Matter under Delegation of Authority
3. Financial Reports – 30 June 2023
4. Audited Financial Statements of Legislature – year ended 31 March 2023 (excluding Office of the Auditor General)
5. Audited Financial Statements of Office of the Auditor General – year ended 31 March 2023
6. Appointment of Auditor for Legislature – year ended 31 March 2024
7. Ruling on Allowance Use

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Canada’s Premiers are united in their commitment to take action on the affordability challenges facing Canadians, along with the need to improve health services, tackle housing issues, and strengthen strategic infrastructure.

Premiers* gathered in Halifax to discuss how provinces and territories are working to address these challenges, noting that improving the lives of Canadians requires all governments to work together in a spirit of genuine collaboration.

Climate change is a key concern for Canadians. Provinces and territories are taking action to address climate change and have made significant investments over time to meet the needs of their jurisdictions. Premiers expressed concern that federal actions around the federal carbon tax have treated Canadians differently and expect the Federal Government to support all Canadians fairly. Premiers are unanimous in calling on the Prime Minister to ensure that federal policies and programs are delivered in a fair and equitable way to all Canadians, particularly in light of the affordability challenges being faced across the country.

The Prime Minister has not convened a full in-person First Ministers’ Meeting since December 2018 despite repeated requests from Premiers. Premiers reiterated their call for a First Ministers’ Meeting to discuss competitiveness and strategic infrastructure.

They emphasized the need for predictable and flexible federal funding to support provincial and territorial governments in addressing the full spectrum of infrastructure challenges and priorities unique to their jurisdictions.

Premiers expect the Federal Government to provide sustaining operating funding of projects in which they invest, while respecting provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

Ahead of the federal fall economic statement, Premiers also called for constructive federal engagement and immediate action on a number of priority issues.

Strategic Infrastructure
Provinces and territories need to be partners in federal infrastructure and housing programming. Premiers agreed to explore legislative frameworks similar to Québec that require provincial authorization before municipalities or public agencies enter into any agreements with the Federal Government.

Predictable and flexible federal funding that flows exclusively through provinces and territories is necessary to address unique needs and support long-term capital planning.

Premiers called on the Federal Government to include the new infrastructure program in the fall economic statement. Premiers are opposed to application-based funding in the new infrastructure program and call for provincial and territorial allocations and greater flexibility and coordination across all levels of government.

Premiers reminded the Federal Government of its responsibility with respect to federal infrastructure, including economic corridors, railways, and ports.

Federal programs that create duplicative processes, prescribe certain kinds of infrastructure projects over others, or pit provinces and territories against each other, work against the collective betterment of Canadians.

Canada’s Premiers discussed the everyday impact of inflation and how to combat this through investments in strategic infrastructure that improve productivity and strengthen supply chains. Community, economic, and competitive infrastructure is critical for building strong communities, improving affordability, and enhancing the prosperity of Canadians.

The increasing frequency of natural disasters, such as wildfires and flooding, highlights the importance of adaptation in response to a changing climate. Additional federal funding and resources are urgently needed now to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of future events. The Federal Government must work closely and transparently with provinces and territories on the modernization of the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements.

Housing
Premiers emphasized the critical need for collaboration between all levels of government with respect to addressing the housing crisis. Provinces and territories need to have a key role in the development and execution of federal housing programs: the issue cannot be solved by the Federal Government and municipalities acting without the meaningful involvement and support of provinces and territories.

Premiers also discussed the link between infrastructure and housing priorities. Provinces and territories are making investments and policy/regulatory changes to support the availability and affordability of housing to meet labour market demand, address homelessness, and welcome newcomers. On top of this, many Canadians have lost homes to wildfires, flooding, and other forms of extreme weather.

While recent announcements by the Federal Government are a step in the right direction, more can and must be done. Effective intergovernmental collaboration between provincial/territorial governments and the federal government could support a range of solutions adapted to the diverse realities and needs of the country’s regions, including increased housing pressures as a result of the growing population including immigrants and asylum seekers.

Premiers also called on the Federal Government to address the chronic underfunding of housing in Indigenous communities.

Health
Premiers expressed their deep appreciation for the work and dedication of all frontline health care workers.

Provinces and territories are taking action in response to Canadians’ priorities across the care continuum, including addressing wait times and access to primary care, mental health and substance use services, and recruiting and retaining health care professionals.

Premiers noted the recent public acknowledgement by the Federal Government that provinces and territories have exclusive jurisdiction over the planning, organization and management of their health care systems, and expect present and future collaboration with the Federal Government to be truly reflective of this. The health care needs of Canadians are not the same across the country, and addressing current and future challenges cannot be viewed as a one-size-fits-all solution.

Premiers welcomed the decision of the College of Family Physicians of Canada to pause consideration of a third year of family practice residency. Provinces and territories stressed the importance of medical residency requirements for family medicine remaining at two years given ongoing health and human resource shortages across the country.

Premiers also met for a dedicated summit focused on health innovation at Nova Scotia’s Health Innovation Hub. Health care is a top priority for premiers, and they remain focused on providing the world class health care services that Canadians expect and deserve.

The meeting in Halifax was the first meeting hosted by Premier Tim Houston as Chair of the Council of the Federation.

* The Northwest Territories was unable to participate due to the Territorial election. Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok was unable to participate due to obligations in the Legislative Assembly.

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Health care continues to be a top priority for Premiers, and they explored the role innovation can play in improving their health care systems during a Health Summit in Halifax. The health care challenges provinces and territories face range from access to primary care in rural, remote, and northern areas and for underserved populations, to the growing demand for health care workers across the country to fill vacancies and to help expand services.

Premiers shared how innovation in health service delivery can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of provincial and territorial health systems across the continuum of care, and enhance access to the health care services Canadians rely on every day.

Hosted at Nova Scotia’s Health Innovation Hub, Premiers discussed advancements in health care and shared the latest improvements within their jurisdictions. Through this focused Health Summit, Premiers centered on their commitment to address immediate and ongoing challenges through system transformation to better meet the health care needs of Canadians.

Recognizing that our health care workers are the backbone of providing quality, people-centered care, Premiers shared new approaches to managing health human resources and expanding medical education, recruitment, and retention. This complements efforts to streamline system operations and increase the use of advanced procedures to improve wait times and optimize patient outcomes. A thriving health sector attracts top professionals to Canada and improves international competitiveness while also retaining our world-class talent.

By fostering a culture of innovation, provinces and territories are empowering our health care providers to meet the ever-changing needs of residents. Governments, educational institutions and health care institutions are working together to develop solutions to health care challenges that will meet the demands of the future. Each province and territory brings a unique lens to health care innovation and all Canadians benefit from new approaches underway and being explored across the country.

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The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Honourable David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, will be available to media tomorrow (Tuesday, November 7).

The media availability will take place at the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios, 10 Maple View Road, St. John’s at approximately 3:30 p.m. NST (11:00 a.m. PST). The Premiers will take questions from local media on site, and media from British Columbia can participate virtually. All media wishing to participate are asked to kindly RSVP by 2:30 p.m. NST (10:00 a.m. PST) by contacting Jillian Hood at jillianhood@gov.nl.ca.

The availability will be livestreamed on YouTube by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of British Columbia.

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The Provincial Government today released an inventory of vacant provincial land in the St. John’s metro region that can be made available for the development of purpose-built rental housing that is affordable.

To facilitate the process, a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) was issued to invite proposals from industry and not-for-profit stakeholders for the development of the land for rental housing. The REOI is in keeping with the commitment to review vacant provincial land and buildings, as announced in the province’s five-point housing plan on October 16.

Initiative number three of the plan focused on the “use of available Provincial Government-owned land and buildings for construction or conversion for purpose-built rental housing, including modular.” Since that time, a review of Provincial Government-owned properties in the metro region has taken place, and a number of vacant properties were identified for this type of development for affordable housing.

As announced last month, the overarching plan is designed to increase the availability of housing that is more affordable in Newfoundland and Labrador by helping stimulate private sector development and stabilizing or reducing housing prices. Government will continue to explore vacant provincial land outside of the metro region for the additional development of affordable rental housing.

The details of the REOI, as well as information on all tenders and requests for proposals issued and awarded by the department and other public bodies, is available at www.merx.com/govnl.

Quotes
“We know that safe, affordable housing and housing that is more affordable are intrinsically linked to our social and economic well-being, and is at the heart of vibrant and healthy communities. We also recognize the housing challenges we are facing in our province and how they are impacting Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I am very pleased that we are already making progress on our five-point plan to increase the availability of housing through the release of this Request for Expressions of Interest, and I look forward to receiving proposals that will translate into affordable housing.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Through this Request for Expressions of Interest for proposals, we are making available properties at fair market value that can be developed specifically for affordable rental housing. It is our hope as a government that these vacant government-owned properties will be part of the solution to help meet the demand we are currently experiencing in our province.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“We acknowledge the increased challenges people are facing in accessing affordable housing. Today’s announcement shows how our government is rising to these challenges and is taking tangible and meaningful actions to support the more vulnerable people in our communities, as well as helping to meet market demand for housing that is affordable.”
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation and
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development

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Learn more
Provincial Government Launches Five-Point Plan to Improve Availability of Housing that is Affordable

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The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is an annual global event to remember those who have been killed or seriously injured in traffic incidents, and to acknowledge those affected by their loss.

This year’s ceremony in Newfoundland and Labrador will take place on Friday, November 17, 2023 at RCMP Headquarters, 100 East White Hills Road, St. John’s beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Guests are asked to please RSVP by Wednesday, November 15 to rcmp.nl.media-medias.tnl.grc@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Upon arrival, guests will be asked to present a registered ID to be permitted entrance to the building.

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The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael Harvey, has released his Report A-2023-044 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015. A summary of the Report is included below.

To view the Report in its entirety, please go to www.oipc.nl.ca/reports/commissioner.

Report: A-2023-044 Report Date: November 3, 2023 Public Body: Department of Justice and Public Safety Summary: The Complainant made eight related access to information requests to the Department of Justice and Public Safety, seeking records on the costs and expenses of several individuals employed or paid for by the Crown in a criminal matter for which a prosecutorial stay had been entered in March 2023. For seven of the requests, the Department claimed that section 5(1)(j) of ATIPPA, 2015 applied and therefore the requested records were outside of the jurisdiction of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. For one of the requests, JPS did disclose some records with redactions made pursuant to sections 30(1)(a) and 40(1) of ATIPPA, 2015. Given the constraints placed by a claim of section 5(1)(j), this Office refrained from making a recommendation on that particular issue, though the Commissioner did offer comments on the applicability of section 5(1)(j) in this case. Upon review of the records disclosed to the Complainant, the Commissioner concurred with the Department’s use of section 30(1)(a) to withhold information that is subject to solicitor-client or litigation privilege and the application of section 40(1) to protect personal information.

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Media contact
Sean Murray
Director of Research & Quality Assurance
709-729-6309

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The Provincial Government is establishing centres of excellence in aging at regional hospitals, which will lead to improved access to quality health care for seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, made the announcement today during the latest Health Care Action update. Minister Osborne was joined by Dr. Pat Parfrey, Deputy Minister of Health Transformation, and Dr. Susan Mercer, Clinical Chief, Older Adult Care, NL Health Services.

The centres of excellence in aging will include:

• More than 90 beds as part of the new St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital for Acute Care of the Elderly Units (known as ACE Units), as well as rehabilitation and restorative care;
• Seniors-friendly services, such as special attention to medication, special assistance from medical staff and mobility aids; and,
• Seniors-friendly emergency care at the existing St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital and the new emergency department at the Health Sciences Centre.

Planning is continuing for a centre of excellence in Central Newfoundland and appropriate programming for Labrador.

Seniors-friendly emergency care will include services such as:

• Medical staff trained to provide emergency care specific to older adults; and
• Equipment designed to make emergency visits more comfortable, such as reclining exam chairs and mobility aides.

To support the centres of excellence in aging the Provincial Government is funding the creation of a new Geriatric Medicine Training Program, as well as the expansion of Memorial University’s Care of the Elderly Training Program for family physicians. Budget 2023 committed approximately $5 million over five years to create the new training program and expand the current training program.

The new training program will provide physicians with additional knowledge and skills needed to provide high-quality care to older adults, which will improve health care outcomes, improve quality of life and help enable seniors to maintain their independence, leading to improved access to quality care for seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The new Geriatric Medicine Training Program, the expansion of the Care of the Elderly Family Physician Training and the creation of centres of excellence in aging align with recommendations from Health Accord NL to increase trained providers in older adult care in all areas of the health system, including family care teams, acute care, emergency departments, restorative care, assisted living and long-term care settings.

Quotes
“Older adults visit emergency departments at a higher rate than non-seniors, have high use of prescription medications, and often suffer from complex social and physical challenges. These new centres of excellence will exceed existing disability regulations and be environments offering more assistance to seniors. The new and expanded training programs will also support physicians to provide better care for all seniors and allow physicians to receive that training here, which helps with recruitment and retention of physicians.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“At NL Health Services, we are committed to delivering the highest quality care to all residents of our province and are pleased with the announcements today that support enhanced health care delivery for the older adult population. With a shortage of geriatricians across the country, a Geriatric Training Program at the Faculty of Medicine will allow us to train these specialists here in the province. Together with the expansion of the Care of the Elderly Training Program and establishing centres of excellence for senior care, we will be better positioned to provide high quality care in both hospital and community-based settings for older adults with complex health issues.”
Dr. Susan Mercer
Clinical Chief, Older Adult Care, NL Health Services – Eastern Zones

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The post Provincial Government to Improve Senior Care with Centres of Excellence in Aging first appeared on News Releases.

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The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, will host a Health Care Action Update today (Monday, November 6) to announce initiatives to improve access to health care for seniors.

The availability will take place in the Media Centre, East Block, Confederation Building beginning at 1:30 p.m. A technical briefing for media will take place at 1:00 p.m.

Minister Osborne will be joined by Dr. Pat Parfrey, Deputy Minister of Health Transformation, and Dr. Susan Mercer, Clinical Chief, Older Adult Care, NL Health Services – Eastern Zones.

The availability will be livestreamed on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Facebook page.

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The post Media Advisory: Minister Osborne to Host Health Care Action Update first appeared on News Releases.

The post Media Advisory: Minister Osborne to Host Health Care Action Update appeared first on News Releases.

The Provincial Government is reminding residents to ensure bonfires are conducted in a safe and legal manner on Guy Fawkes Night (Sunday, November 5).

While residents are encouraged to attend a community-sponsored event, those having private bonfires need to ensure compliance with municipal and provincial laws. Contact your municipality, local service district, Inuit Community Government or local fire department for more information.

It is illegal to openly burn plastics, tires, asphalt products, paint products, used oil, household garbage and treated wood.

In areas where bonfires are permissible, residents are advised to have ready access to fire extinguishing tools and supplies, and are cautioned to take the following steps:

• Fires should be on a gravel base eight to 10 metres from trees or structures;
• Flammable liquids should not be used to start or accelerate a fire, and aerosol cans and pressurized gas cylinders, such as propane cylinders, should not be added to a fire;
• Only adults should add material to a fire, and children should be kept at a safe distance at all times;
• Property owners in the area of a fire should ensure all combustible materials are properly secured;
• Ensure the fire is fully extinguished using water and/or gravel, and the bonfire area should be cleared and returned to its previous condition.

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The post Public Advisory: Keep Guy Fawkes Night Bonfires Safe and Legal first appeared on News Releases.

The post Public Advisory: Keep Guy Fawkes Night Bonfires Safe and Legal appeared first on News Releases.