Government of Newfoundland News

Effective Monday, May 6, 2024, the Government Service Centre located in Harbour Grace will be relocated to 25 Bareneed Road, Coley’s Point South, Bay Roberts.

The mailing address for the new location is:
Digital Government and Service NL
P.O. Box 460
Coley’s Point South, Bay Roberts, NL, A0A1X0

The new location will provide the same in-person services that were available to the public at the Harbour Grace office, including:

• Motor Registration Division services
• Private water sampling collection
• Environmental protection services
• Electrical inspection services

Many government services may also be accessed by visiting MyGovNL. A MyGovNL account can be easily created by providing an email address and creating a password.

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The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, will be in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to participate in the 2024 East Coast Music Awards.

As part of the weekend’s events, Minister Crocker will attend and bring greetings at the ECMA Newfoundland and Labrador reception tomorrow (Saturday, May 4).

The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Elm Room, Delta Hotel, Charlottetown.

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The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, will bring greetings at the Newfoundland and Labrador Regional MATE ROV competition tomorrow (Friday, May 3).

The event will take place at the Marine Institute, 155 Ridge Road, St. John’s, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The MATE ROV Competition is an international underwater robotics challenge that engages a global community of learners each year. Participants at the Newfoundland and Labrador regional competition will be competing for the chance to attend the MATE ROV World Championship in Kingsport, TN, in June 2024.

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The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, will announce funding for the Murphy Centre on Friday, May 3. Minister Howell will be joined by the Honourable John G. Abbott, MHA for St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi.

The announcement takes place at the Murphy Centre, 1 Prince Phillip Drive, St. John’s, (behind College of the North Atlantic), beginning at 11:00 a.m.

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The Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality, will be a guest presenter during the first day of competition for the 2024 Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program on Friday, May 3.

The Minister’s presentation on Women in Leadership Roles takes place at the Southlands Community Centre, 40 Teakwood Drive, St. John’s, at 10:00 a.m.

The Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program, established in 2006, is an incorporated, not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering and nurturing the potential of young women ages 13-18 in Grades 7-12 throughout the province.

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The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality:

Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sunday, May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, also known as Red Dress Day.

The red dress has become a powerful symbol of Indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who have been taken from their communities, often without justice or closure for their loved ones. Each empty space in a family or community leaves a void that can never be filled.

Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people face higher rates of violence than their non-Indigenous, cisgender and heterosexual counterparts, so this day is also a reminder that we must confront the systemic issues that lead to gender-based violence.

We cannot allow these tragedies to continue and must therefore stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities and support their efforts to seek justice and healing. We also must listen to the voices of survivors and families and amplify their calls for change.

In 2023-24 our government allocated over $1.2 million to support initiatives for Indigenous women, groups, and organizations. This included the Indigenous Women’s Reconciliation Council, Indigenous Violence Prevention Grants Program, the annual Provincial Indigenous Women’s Gathering, and funding support to the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network.

Speaker, our government will continue to support actions that aim to prevent violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Thank you, Speaker.

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The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services:

Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University for its work matching medical students with family medicine in rural communities.

The faculty is the 2024 recipient of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada Rural Medical Education Award, which is presented to a Canadian medical school that matches the most graduates to rural family medicine residency programs.

Memorial led the country by matching 71 per cent of its graduates in 2023 to a rural family medicine residency.

Dr. Lyn Power, an assistant professor at the faculty who practices on the Burin Peninsula, was also honoured with the Rural Long Service Award.

The award recognizes physicians who serve in rural Canadian communities for 20 or more years. Dr. Power was also recognized as Fellow of Rural and Remote Medicine, which is presented to physicians with expertise in rural medicine in Canada.

We are proud of the faculty’s and Dr. Power’s work and dedication to practicing medicine in rural regions.

Speaker, through our support of the faculty, investments to increase seats for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and investments in recruitment and retention, we are excited about the future of physicians practicing in rural communities.

I ask all members to join me in congratulating the faculty and Dr. Power for these accomplishments.

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The Provincial Government is increasing the number of student assistants in the K-12 public education system and providing stability to the number of hours student assistants work each day. This increase in student supports is made possible through a $3 million investment announced as part of Budget 2024.

The investment will result in approximately 104 full-time equivalent student assistant positions being added to the K-12 public education system. In addition to new student assistant roles being injected into the system, the budget allocation also gives stability to student assistants by ensuring that all positions work a minimum of five hours per school day.

Student assistants play an important role in supporting student success in the classroom and on school buses. They work with and provide support to students with cognitive, physical and/or behavioral needs, and assist with the implementation of individual program plans for students which have been developed by the teacher in collaboration with the program planning team.

Providing a positive educational experience for students requires a variety of educators and staff in the school setting to ensure that student needs are met. This includes student assistants, classroom teachers, instructional resource teachers, teaching and learning assistants, and other roles that affect students’ education.

The Provincial Government is committed to creating and fostering a positive and modern learning environment. Recent actions to support these efforts include the elimination of the 1.6 kilometre rule to access school bus services; commitment to new school infrastructure in Kenmount Terrace, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, Cartwright, and Paradise; the elimination of public exams and development of a new assessment and evaluation framework for high school students; and dedicated recruitment and retention initiatives stemming from the recently held Teachers Think Tank and the ratification of the new collective agreement, which is further supported with allocated funding through Budget 2024.

Quotes
“Student assistants are critical to supporting student needs on school buses and in the classroom. This allocation of $3 million will increase the number of student assistants available to provide meaningful supports to students, which will ultimately help individual students, others in the classroom, and teachers.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education

“Student Assistants play an integral role in schools across our province. They provide vital support, empathy, care, and compassion via their unwavering dedication to the children in our school system. The funding contained in this year’s provincial budget for additional student assistants will go a long way to improving the experience and outcomes for everyone involved.”
Jerry Earle
President, NAPE

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Learn more
Budget 2024 – Education, Child Care and Growing Communities

Provincial Government and Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association Sign Collective Agreement

Teachers Think Tank to be Held in New Year to Inform Recruitment and Retention Initiatives

Site Announced for New School in Kenmount Terrace

Location Unveiled for Site of New School in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s

Provincial Government to Build a New High School for Paradise 

Provincial Government to Introduce New Model of Assessment and Evaluation for High School Students

Provincial Government Announces the Creation of Education Accord NL

Provincial Government Completes Integration of English School District

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BACKGROUNDER

Budget 2024 Investments in K-12 Education

• $850,000 to provide targeted recruitment and retention initiatives for positions in historically hard-to-fill rural, remote and isolated areas of the province. Initiatives include financial incentives; travel assistance; housing subsidies; and pre-service internships.
• Close to $3 million to increase student assistant hours and hire more student assistants, for the equivalent of 104 full-time student assistant positions.
• $3 million to expand school food programming to all pre-kindergarten and K-9 schools, beginning in 2024 with schools with the most need.
• Close to $1 million to support a new assessment and evaluation framework for high school students, as well as acquisition of a computer-based testing platform to implement high school literacy and numeracy assessments.
• $75,000 for 75 scholarships to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Confederation and improve access to post-secondary education.
• Close to $20 million for the elimination of the 1.6 kilometre policy to access school bus services.
• $30.1 million over the next five years to revitalize the fleet of school buses.
• $52.5 million in 2024-25 and $146.1 million over next three years for new schools in Cartwright, Kenmount Terrace, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, and Pilley’s Island.
• $50,000 for planning of a new high school in Paradise.

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 The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, will deliver remarks during the luncheon of the Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2024 Municipal Symposium: Unlocking Excellence tomorrow, Friday, May 3.

The luncheon will take place at the Quality Hotel and Suites, 100 Trans-Canada Hwy, Gander, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

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The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, will be available to the media to discuss the allocation through Budget 2024 of $3 million to increase student assistants in the K-12 public education system. Minister Howell will be joined by Jerry Earle, President of NAPE.

The availability will take place outside the House of Assembly, Confederation Building, at 1:00 p.m.

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The electronic monitoring program is being expanded to the Clarenville region effective today, May 1. This region spans from Bellevue to Port Blandford along the Trans-Canada Highway and all of the Bonavista Peninsula.

Electronic monitoring provides enhanced supervision for offenders on probation and conditional sentence orders where the court has imposed the electronic monitoring condition. It also enhances the supervision of those on a temporary absence from correctional facilities where electronic monitoring is deemed appropriate.

Offenders in the program wear ankle bracelets that provide 24/7 location data to probation officers to help enforce conditions such as curfews and no-contact orders. Electronic monitoring also allows offenders to work and support their families and be contributing members of society.

Expanding the program to the Clarenville region is designed to increase public and victim safety in the region. For example, one feature of the technology involves alerting authorities when an individual breaches an area they are restricted from entering or leaving, known as exclusion and inclusion zones. The size of these zones can vary from a single building to a larger geographical area. This helps protect survivors of intimate partner violence and other violent offences as well as ensuring offenders abide by court-ordered conditions.

Data generated from the expansion to the Clarenville region will inform future expansion plans to offer the program in additional areas of the province.

Budget 2024 – Transforming Our Health. Our Economy. Our Province. provides $293,000 for the electronic monitoring program to help lower levels of recidivism and improve safety for victims, staff and the public.

This is the first expansion of the electronic monitoring program since it was launched in 2020 and was partially made possible by using existing resources at the Clarenville probation office.  Electronic monitoring is already offered in Labrador and on the Northeast Avalon.

Quote
“Electronic monitoring strengthens our ability to protect victims and at the same time helps holds people accountable for their actions. The Clarenville expansion is another step toward bringing this public safety tool to more areas where we have the technology and infrastructure to make it happen.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General

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The Provincial Government is moving forward with amendments to the Tourist Accommodations Act.

The amendments will require short-term accommodation hosts who list their primary residences to register with the Provincial Government. Additionally, short-term rental platforms will be required to remove any listing that is not registered and to share information about their listings with the Provincial Government.

These measures will provide the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador with a more complete picture of the scope of short-term rentals throughout the province.

The Tourist Accommodations Act received Royal Assent in the House of Assembly in November 2020, replacing the former Tourism Establishments Act. Prior to its introduction in the House of Assembly, an online questionnaire was administered that engaged tourism and hospitality stakeholders on short-term accommodations in the province. Since then, the department has been regularly engaged with key stakeholders, such as Hospitality NL and Municipalities NL.

Since April 2023, over 2,200 accommodations have registered with the Province. In March 2024, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation extended the registration deadline to June 30 to allow adequate time to process the registrations and update the various partner platforms.

Further details on the Tourist Accommodations Act, including the regulations and how to register your short-term accommodation can be found online.

Quotes
“Tourism and hospitality stakeholders in our province have advocated for a better balance between licensed and unlicensed accommodations. With these measures, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, and Recreation gains oversight of all providers of overnight stays, empowering them to regulate and enhance our visitors’ experiences. We remain committed to collaborating with stakeholders as we progress in implementing and assessing these changes.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

“Hospitality NL and its members welcome the amendments to the Tourism Accommodations Act. We had advocated to the Province for meaningful adjustments to the legislation that levels the playing field for all short-term rentals. These amendments will help ensure platforms are accountable and contributing to the tourism and hospitality industry as equal players. Providing the best ‘Newfoundland and Labrador experience’ requires all operators to work together.”
Deborah Bourden
Chair, Hospitality NL

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Learn more
New Tourist Accommodations Act and Regulations

Proclaimed New Tourist Accommodations Bill Introduced

Tourist Accommodations Bill

Minister Davis Announces Framework to Address Short Term Accommodations

Engaging Stakeholders on Modernizing the Tourist Establishments Act

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The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education:

Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to highlight our government’s efforts to improve access to early learning and child care in the province.

These efforts have been recognized in a recent report by the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development, which ranks Newfoundland and Labrador fourth in the country amongst all provinces and territories when comparing governance, funding, access, the early learning environment, and accountability.

Speaker, our government has been listening and responding to the needs of families, service providers, and the early learning workforce.

We have implemented recruitment and retention initiatives for early childhood educators; we have provided incentives and funding to increase the number of early learning and child care spaces; and we are continuing to ensure that regulated child care is high quality, affordable and inclusive.

Speaker, there are currently 9,100 early learning and child care spaces operating at $10 a day or less in this province, and a further 2,200 spaces are in various stages of development.

Speaker, Budget 2024 has allocated close to $200 million to early learning and child care. We will continue to work with partners throughout the province so that all families are able to access the early learning and child care services that they need.

Thank you.

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The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs:

Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize May 5 to 11 as Municipal Awareness Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Today in our province we have 270 incorporated municipalities who play a vital role in improving the overall well-being of residents by maintaining operations and providing important services throughout communities.

Speaker, on Friday, I will be joining Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and municipal leaders at the annual Municipal Symposium, Unlocking Excellence, which is taking place in the scenic District of Gander.

I applaud all mayors, councillors and staff for their ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Their devotion to strengthening communities is truly unwavering.

As a government, we acknowledge that municipalities are facing challenges and Budget 2024 includes key funding initiatives to help address those challenges:

• $50 million over five years to support water and wastewater projects.
• More than $160 million for Municipal Operating Grants, Special Assistance Grants, Community Enhancement Employment Program, and Canada Community Building Fund.
• $400,000 increase for municipal training.
• $400,000 increase for municipal fire departments to support their response to incidents outside their municipal boundary.

I look forward to continuing to work together with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and municipal leaders throughout the province on our shared goal to build more sustainable and vibrant municipalities. I also encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to celebrate the work and leadership of the municipal sector in our province during Municipal Awareness Week.

Thank you.

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Minutes after midnight, the inaugural WestJet flight from St. John’s to Gatwick departed, the first time since 2019 that Newfoundland and Labrador had a direct route to Europe.

In November 2023, the St. John’s International Airport Authority, in partnership with the Provincial Government, entered into an agreement with WestJet to offer this route for the next three years. The flight will operate seasonally, three days per week, from May to October.

Air transportation plays a crucial role in connecting both global and local markets, facilitating the transportation of essential goods, healthcare services, and emergency assistance. Additionally, it serves as a significant contributor to employment opportunities and is essential for driving tourism and fostering economic growth within the province.

Air access remains a primary focus for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, with ongoing efforts to explore new routes. Budget 2024 includes up to $3.75 million to support the development and expansion of air travel in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Quotes
“Newfoundland and Labrador has found an excellent partner in WestJet. As a Government, we have worked hard to build air access to our province and WestJet has risen to the occasion, reestablishing a direct route to Europe with the St. John’s – London Gatwick route and expanding its offerings on the east and west coasts. Thank you to CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech and the entire WestJet team.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Air access is essential for the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. WestJet’s ongoing dedication to collaborating with us and our airport partners to enhance flight offerings has profoundly enhanced our capacity to boost tourism and hospitality in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Provincial Government looks forward to future collaborative efforts with WestJet.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Recreation

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Learn more
Provincial Government Celebrates First Direct Route to Europe Since 2019

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The 2024 forest fire season for Newfoundland and Labrador begins today (May 1) for the island portion of the province, while May 15 is the beginning of forest fire season in Labrador, with both remaining in effect until September 30.

The public is reminded a permit to burn must be obtained from a provincial forest management district office to burn vegetation, wood and paper products during forest fire season. A permit is not required for backyard fires, recreational campfires and boil-ups on forest land, or within 300 metres of forest land, on condition the fire is prepared in accordance with strict Provincial Forest Fire Regulations. Anyone planning outdoor fires should first check the provincial online forest fire hazard rating maps to determine the level of forest fire risk. Fire hazard maps can be viewed at the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture website and are updated daily. To report a wildfire, call: 1-866-709-FIRE (3473).

Wildfire suppression teams, water bombers and helicopters are strategically located throughout the province and ready to respond when and where needed. Also, if required, Newfoundland and Labrador can access forest firefighting resources from other provinces through mutual resource sharing agreements.

Several improvements to the province’s wildland fire management capabilities have been made for 2024. This consists of upgrades to the Provincial Forest Fire Communications Centre weather monitoring and forecasting systems; launching a new online NL Active Wildfire Dashboard that provides real-time wildfire information; and the delivery of 23 new wildfire response vehicles.

Through Budget 2024, the Provincial Government has allocated $1.5 million to support the procurement of wildland firefighting equipment. The budget also earmarks a further $1 million to contribute to a shared federal funding program that will provide training and equipment for wildland firefighters.

Quote
“Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with forest fire regulations and to be vigilant when using fire in and around our province’s forest and wilderness areas. Our forests provide society with a multitude of benefits, and we must work together to protect this vital resource for our well-being and that of future generations.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

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Learn more
Public Reminders for Forest Fire Season

Permit to Burn Conditions

Provincial Forest Fire Regulations

Fire Hazard Map

FireSmart Canada

Follow us on X@GovNL and @FFA_GovNL

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The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, announced today approximately $220,000 in funding to Food First Newfoundland and Labrador to support improved access to nutritious foods for residents throughout the province.

Food First Newfoundland and Labrador is a non-profit organization that works to advance the right to food in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The funding is in addition to annual operating grants of $105,000 provided to Food First Newfoundland and Labrador to support community-level food security initiatives across multiple settings including schools, the retail sector and Indigenous communities.

The Department of Health and Community Services prioritizes improved access to nutritious food as a component of improving health outcomes and addressing the social determinants of health for the residents of the province. The department focuses on community and school-based initiatives to support improved access to food.

In November 2023, the Provincial Government announced a new Poverty Reduction Plan that provides incremental investments totaling $41 million. The plan focuses on improving the overall well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with a series of actions aimed at reducing poverty and improving food security in the province.

Budget 2024 builds on transforming Newfoundland and Labrador with record high investments in health care, seniors, housing and poverty reduction.

Quotes
“This investment represents a continued commitment to becoming one of the healthiest provinces in Canada by 2031. Food First NL helps to increase access to nutritious food at the community and retail levels. Improving access to nutritious foods can help improve health outcomes and address the social determinants of health for the residents of the province.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Every day we see examples of how communities and organizations are coming together to strengthen our food system. This investment will help Food First NL support these efforts all over the province.”
Joshua Smee
CEO, Food First Newfoundland and Labrador

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Budget 2024

Poverty Reduction Plan

Food First Newfoundland and Labrador

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The Department of Health and Community Services has provided $550,000 in funding to the Canadian Mental Health Association – Newfoundland and Labrador Division (CMHA-NL) to support mental health and suicide prevention training initiatives.

This funding will enable CMHA-NL to continue to partner with Lifewise NL and Richard’s Legacy Foundation for Survivors of Suicide Loss to provide essential training programs across the province. This aligns with the recommendations in Our Path of Resilience: An Action Plan to Promote Life and Prevent Suicide in Newfoundland and Labrador to increase access to evidence-based mental health and suicide prevention training, thereby enhancing community resources and creating more resilient and supportive communities.

Building upon earlier funding, 62 courses have been offered with 630 people attending training in either Mental Health First Aid, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) or SafeTalk across the province as of March 2024. This investment will further support a coordinated and efficient approach to mental health training across the province.

Centralizing training with CMHA-NL, in collaboration with Lifewise NL and Richard’s Legacy Foundation for Survivors of Suicide Loss, will also help streamline administration, reduce per-participant costs, and allow Community Addictions Prevention and Mental Health Promotion (CAPMHP) Program funds historically used for this purpose to support additional community initiatives.

Budget 2024 includes more than $17 million to help improve access to mental health and addictions services by expanding options for individuals seeking help when and where needed.

Quotes
“We are dedicated to fostering a resilient and supportive community by investing in essential mental health and suicide prevention training programs. This funding represents a significant step towards achieving the goals outlined in Our Path of Resilience. It enables CMHA-NL, Lifewise and Richard’s Legacy Foundation to continue providing invaluable resources and support to individuals across Newfoundland and Labrador, empowering them to lead healthier and happier lives.”
The Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“Thanks to the transformative support of the Department of Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association – Newfoundland and Labrador (CMHA-NL) is thrilled to spearhead an initiative providing vital mental health training for local not-for-profit organizations. Local not-for-profits stand on the front lines of our mental health crisis, frequently serving as the first point of contact for individuals in distress, including their own dedicated employees, highlighting the critical need for accessible, high-quality mental health training and support. This project marks another milestone in our ongoing and productive collaboration with Lifewise and the Richard’s Legacy Foundation. Together, we are opening doors to essential mental health resources, ensuring those in need receive the support and care they deserve.”
Dr. Chandra Kavanagh,
Chief Executive Officer, CMHA-NL

“Lifewise is honoured to continue partnering with CMHA-NL and Richard’s Legacy Foundation to offer critical mental health training in Newfoundland and Labrador. As not-for-profits work with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians every day, it is essential their frontline staff are equipped to provide support in any situation. Working collaboratively, our three organizations are confident in the value this project will provide to the not-for-profit sector and the people they serve. We thank the Department of Health and Community Services for championing this initiative and finding creative solutions to the issues facing our province.”
Brad Glynn,
Executive Director, Lifewise

“Richard’s Legacy Foundation, in partnership with Canadian Mental Health Association-NL, and Lifewise, continues to be honoured being entrusted with providing much-needed Mental Health First Aid and suicide intervention education to not-for-profit and charity organizations across Newfoundland and Labrador. It is our aim to create safer, healthier, happier communities and with the continuing support of the provincial government this project keeps moving us all forward in the pursuit of that goal.”
Tina Davies,
President, Richard’s Legacy Foundation

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Our Path of Resilience

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The follow statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable John Hogan, KC, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General:

Speaker, I am proud to announce that on June 1, 2024, public safety radio will be in effect province-wide.

This system improves response times in crucial moments, and enables all four Atlantic Provinces to communicate immediately during an emergency.

Speaker, our government committed to this project four years ago. We recognized how this could bolster public safety in all regions and committed $181 million over 12 years to implement this and the associated communications infrastructure.

I commend officials for working together to ensure all facets of the emergency response system are ready to go live on June 1. This endeavor to implement a new system incorporates thousands of radio users, from police, to firefighters, to paramedics. This also includes radios for ground search and rescue teams, as well as volunteer fire departments across the province.

Speaker, as we sit on the eve of emergency preparedness week, I would be remiss not to acknowledge our first responders, whose compassion and selflessness to help others deserves our recognition and gratitude.

This is a significant day for public safety in Newfoundland and Labrador. Thank you.

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The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture:

 Speaker, governments, communities, and residents all have a role to play in protecting against wildfires. With the 2024 forest fire season set to begin May 1 on the island and May 15 in Labrador, I would like to highlight our preparedness efforts and encourage the public to be vigilant in preventing forest fires. With the assistance of funds from Budget 2024, $1.5 million has been invested in new wildland firefighting equipment and a further $1 million has been allocated to match a shared federal funding program to train and equip wildland firefighters.

Forestry personnel were busy throughout the winter conducting training, testing equipment and planning logistics. Currently, we have wildfire suppression teams, water bombers, helicopters, and equipment strategically located throughout the province — ready to respond whenever and wherever they are needed.

Every one of us has a role to play in wildfire prevention. For instance, we can proactively protect our properties by removing leaves and other flammable debris and relocating it to a safe distance from dwellings. When planning an outdoor fire, check the online Provincial Forest Fire Hazard Index maps on the Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture website; familiarize yourself with burning regulations; and obtain a permit to burn when it is required.

Before concluding, I would like to thank everyone who puts their lives at risk in this province to fight a wildfire. Your contribution to public safety is immeasurable.

Thank you.

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