Government of Newfoundland News
Ministerial Statement - Maintaining a Positive Partnership with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Child, Youth and Family Services
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to highlight an important partnership between Child, Youth and Family Services and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
Ministerial Statement - Provincial Government Supports Offshore Call for Bids for 2016
Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to provide details on two recent Calls for Bids issued by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.
Ministerial Statement - Premier and Ministers Visiting Site of Fish Plant Fire in Bay de Verde
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Mr. Speaker, on Monday a fire destroyed the Quinlan Brother’s shrimp and crab processing plant in Bay de Verde. This afternoon, the Premier, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and I will visit the town to witness first-hand the impact of this devastating fire.
Media Advisory: Premier Ball, Minister Crocker and Minister Joyce to Visit Bay de Verde
Executive Council
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Municipal Affairs
The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador; the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture; and the Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services – Newfoundland and Labrador, will visit Bay de Verde today (Wednesday, April 13).
Public Advisory: Parking Restrictions in Place at Confederation Building for Budget Day
Transportation and Works
Visitors to the Confederation Building Complex in St. John’s are advised that parking in front of East Block at 100 Prince Philip Drive will be restricted to media and invited guests attending the Budget Speech on Thursday, April 14.
Provincial Parks Campsite Reservation Service to Open for Season
Environment and Conservation
In preparation for the 2016 camping season, the campsite reservation service for provincial park campgrounds will open over three days later this month. Campers can call 1-877-214-CAMP (2267) or visit www.nlcamping.ca to make a reservation. Seven provincial park campgrounds will open for the Victoria Day weekend, while the six remaining campgrounds will open in late May and early June.
Environmental Assessment Bulletin
Environment and Conservation
The Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister of Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.
Legislative Amendment Respects Rights of Transgender Individuals
Service NL
A legislative amendment to the Vital Statistics Act, 2009 will undergo second reading in the House of Assembly today. The amendment will remove the requirement for an individual to undergo sex reassignment surgery prior to changing the gender marker on the individual’s birth registration or marriage registration. The amendment will bring provincial law into compliance with an order issued by a Board of Inquiry established by the provincial Human Rights Commission, and respond to changes requested by LGBTQ advocates.
Provincial Government Requests Auditor General to Conduct Audit
Education and Early Childhood Development
Finance
The Provincial Government, pursuant to section 16 of the Auditor General Act, has requested the Auditor General to investigate allegations of fraud within the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.
Ministerial Statement - Minister Highlights Importance of Safe Driving Practices
Transportation and Works
Mr. Speaker, while March 20 marked the first day of spring throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, recent weather conditions indicate that safe driving practices must remain top of mind.
Ministerial Statement - Announcing Call for Nominations for Council of the Federation Literacy Award
Advanced Education and Skills
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this House to announce that nominations for the Council of the Federation Literacy Award are now open. This award recognizes outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy by individuals and stakeholder groups.
Government Releases EY’s Interim Report on the Muskrat Falls Project
Executive Council
Natural Resources
Today, the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources, released the interim report from Ernst & Young LLP (EY), which focused on cost, schedule and associated risks for the Muskrat Falls Project. Also released today was the Muskrat Falls Oversight Committee’s report to the end of December 2015.
Ministerial Statement - EY’s Interim Report on Muskrat Falls Released
Natural Resources
I rise in this Honourable House today to speak on the interim report by EY, received April 8 and released online today with the Muskrat Falls Oversight Committee's report to the end of December 2015, received April 11.
Media Advisory: Minister Byrne to Participate in Hot Soup Cool Jazz Fundraiser
Advanced Education and Skills
The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, will take part in Hot Soup Cool Jazz tomorrow (Tuesday, April 12). The event is an annual fundraiser organized by the Jimmy Pratt Memorial Outreach Centre, Canadian Mental Health Organization – NL Chapter, Choices for Youth, Jimmy Pratt Foundation and Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues. The event raises money to address youth homelessness and poverty in the region.
Ministerial Statement - Welcoming Delegates from Nunavut
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this House today to welcome to the province a delegation of 15 of our friends and colleagues from Nunavut. The delegation, made up of officials from both inside and outside government, is here this week to meet with Provincial Government officials and industry representatives to further solidify the work that commenced with the signing of last year’s Memorandum of Understanding between our two jurisdictions.
Ministerial Statement - Provincial Government Recognizes National Wildlife Week
Environment and Conservation
Mr. Speaker, having worked for 30 years as a wildlife biologist, I am pleased to rise in this House to recognize April 10-16 as National Wildlife Week. This year’s theme, Giving Wings to Wildlife Conservation, encourages us to consider all the creatures that inhabit our skies.
Ministerial Statement - Provincial Government Recognizes National Volunteer Week
Executive Council
I rise in this Honourable House today in recognition of the incredible hardworking, dedicated volunteers in our communities.
Media Advisory: Budget 2016 Media Lock-In
Executive Council
Finance
A lock-in for Budget 2016 will be held for media representatives on Thursday, April 14, in the Conference Centre, West Block, Confederation Building.
Provincial Government Celebrates the Many Faces of Volunteering During National Volunteer Week
Executive Council
The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement, is encouraging people to celebrate and recognize the important contributions of volunteers in Newfoundland and Labrador during National Volunteer Week in Canada from April 10 to 16. This year’s theme, The Many Faces of Volunteering, highlights the diversity of volunteers in inclusive communities and the lives they touch.
Provincial Government Invites Proposals for Youth Innovation Projects
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is encouraging young people to engage in the areas of science, engineering and technology by providing funding for innovative projects. The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, today announced the 2016 Youth Innovation Call for Proposals while touring the Agriculture to Aquaponics Youth Project at Holy Trinity High School in Torbay.
