Government of Newfoundland News

Transportation and Works

The Provincial Government will invest over $3.8 million for improvements to the wharf at Portugal Cove-St. Philip's. A contract to carry out the work this summer has been awarded to Trident Construction Limited. The project is one of several key investments being made to wharf infrastructure across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Environment and Conservation

Mr. Speaker, this past Friday, I had the pleasure of joining my Honourable Colleague, the Member for Grand Bank, residents, municipal leaders, school children and representatives of the Wilderness and Ecological Reserve Advisory Council - or WERAC - in the beautiful community of Lord's Cove to officially announce the establishment of the Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve, the newest addition to the province's parks and protected areas system.

Health and Community Services

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in this Honourable House to provide an update on the Strongest Families program. This past March, the Provincial Government announced a new partnership with the Strongest Families Institute to support the regional health authorities in providing children, youth and families with increased access to mental health services. The Strongest Families Institute is a not-for-profit corporation that teaches skills and provides guidance for families through a distance-coaching approach, over the phone and online.

Justice and Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, last summer while on patrol along the shores of the Merasheen Islands and the Burin Peninsula, several Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers came across a dilapidated monument in the resettled community of Little Bona. Upon closer examination, the officers discovered that the monument was in commemoration of Private Michael John White of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, honoured 15 Provincial Government employees today for their outstanding work for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

The Provincial Government has provided a total of $200,000 to 14 municipalities and 19 community-based organizations to support the development of programs and services which make Newfoundland and Labrador more age-friendly for residents. The grants are designed to help develop plans, build capacity, and implement projects and programs which help communities create more age-friendly environments which benefit all citizens, including older adults.

Environment and Conservation

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs is expanding the circumstances where grants for remote recreational cottages can be allowed, providing more current licence holders and future applicants the option of purchasing a grant at market value.

Finance
Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Amendments introduced today to the Income Tax Act, 2000 propose a tax credit for companies working in the interactive digital media industry.

Natural Resources

In preparation for the closing of Duck Pond mine and mill on June 30, Teck Resources has scheduled a number of community presentations that will inform employees and residents of the company's closure plans and next steps moving forward.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, along with Julia Mullaley, Clerk of the Executive Council, will present the 2014 Public Service Award of Excellence tomorrow (Wednesday, June 17). This year’s recipients include five individuals and one team.

Health and Community Services

Kevin Pollard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, will bring greetings at the 50th anniversary ceremony of Saint Luke’s Anglican Homes tomorrow (Wednesday, June 17). The event will be held at Saint Luke’s in St. John’s, 24 Road De Luxe, at 2:30 p.m.

Environment and Conservation

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation and Minister Responsible for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, will join students and staff at Cowan Heights Elementary School, 100 Canada Drive, St. John’s, tomorrow (Wednesday, June 17) for a Climate Change Education Centre Book launch. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. The minster will be joined by, Darren Feltham, Executive Director of Conservation Corps.

Service NL

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to note that the Town of Petty Harbour - Maddox Cove recently became the 70th municipality to partner in BizPaL. Introduced to the province in 2009, BizPaL is a federal-provincial-territorial online information service that helps local entrepreneurs save time and money by simplifying the process of obtaining permits and licences.

Education and Early Childhood Development

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to recognize and commend the outstanding leadership of Marie Woodford, a humanitarian and Grade 9 teacher at Crescent Collegiate. Under her direction, students at Crescent Collegiate, the community of Blaketown as well as numerous schools throughout the province helped to ensure that 105 orphans in Uganda have a new school.

Executive Council
Finance

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced the details of the agreement reached between the Provincial Government and the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association (NLTA) that sustains the Teachers' Pension Plan. The agreement includes a Provincial Government contribution of over $1.8 billion in the form of a promissory note to the plan, over the next 30 years, which will ensure the stability of the plan.

Executive Council

The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer, announced today a Request for Proposals (RFP) has been issued to complete a review into the Provincial Government's IT work practices.

Executive Council

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will announce the details of the recently formalized Teachers' Pension Plan agreement. The announcement will take place at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, June 16) at the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association (NLTA) office at 3 Kenmount Road, St. John's.

Executive Council
Natural Resources

The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will open the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association’s (Noia) 2015 annual international petroleum conference tomorrow (Tuesday, June 16 ) at 8:00 a.m.

Service NL

Service NL will expand its online reporting of food service inspections beyond restaurants, to now include food service facilities in schools, personal care homes and other institutions throughout the province. The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Service NL, announced the upcoming expansion today, which will go live on the department’s website on June 29 at www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/inspections.