Government of Newfoundland News

Finance

The Auditor General today released his 2015 Annual Report. The report includes a total of 10 items related to Provincial Government departments and government entities.

Environment and Conservation

Anglers in the province are reminded that some salmon angling tags that accompany salmon angling licences issued by the Wildlife Division may have defects.

Office of the Auditor General

In his report to the House of Assembly on Reviews of Departments and Crown Agencies tabled in the House of Assembly today in St. John’s, Auditor General, Terry Paddon, reports on 10 reviews completed on Government departments and Crown agencies. The report contains 71 recommendations, directed to Government and the Crown agencies, aimed at strengthening financial and operational processes and controls. In addition, the report contains 215 findings which arose during the reviews.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will bring greetings at the 2015 Heritage Run Tourism Association Annual General Meeting tomorrow (Friday, June 12). The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Oceanview Hotel in St. Lawrence, Route 220.

Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

Mr. Speaker, I recently announced that the Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development has realigned its healthy living, recreation and wellness grant programs to be administered under a streamlined program called the Community Healthy Living Fund.

Environment and Conservation

In order to better understand the factors influencing the population decline of the George River Caribou Herd, and to generate the science-based information required to support management decisions, the Provincial Government launched the Labrador Caribou Initiative in 2011. Supported to date by over $2.2 million in funding, along with an additional investment of $320,000 through Budget 2015, the goal of the initiative is to implement research and monitoring programs designed to inform management of the herd, including the implementation of a five-year ban on all hunting.

Executive Council

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to recognize Penelope Rowe, who was honoured earlier this month and presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University for her distinguished service to the community. Born in St. John’s, Ms. Rowe became a driving force with the Community Sector Council in 1976, an organization focused on strengthening the role that voluntary and non-profit community organizations play in building healthy and prosperous communities throughout the province.

Finance

The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, will be available to the media, to discuss the recent Auditor General’s report, at 4:15 p.m. today (Thursday, June 11) in front of the House of Assembly, East Block, Confederation Building.

Environment and Conservation

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, will be in Lord’s Cove tomorrow (Friday, June 12) to participate in a community celebration marking the Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve’s full reserve status.

Health and Community Services

The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, will bring greetings during a women's health luncheon tomorrow (Friday, June 12). The event will begin at 12:00 p.m. at Glendenning Golf Resort, 120 Gabriel Road, St. John's.

Executive Council
Transportation and Works

The Honourable Keith Russell, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, along with the Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works, will participate in the Combined Councils of Labrador’s 43rd Annual General Meeting taking place in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Office of the Auditor General

The Office of the Auditor General is now located at 5-7 Pippy Place in St. John’s. The Office is located in the Telelink building.

Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ed Ring, has released his Report P-2015-001 under authority of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. A summary of the Report is included below.

Transportation and Works

The Provincial Government has issued a tender for construction of a culvert which will result in the re-opening of R230-21 at English Harbour on the Bonavista Peninsula.

Office of the Auditor General

Terry Paddon, Auditor General of Newfoundland and Labrador, will hold a news conference today (Thursday, June 11), following the tabling of his Report on Reviews of Departments and Crown Agencies in the House of Assembly.

Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced today that the Provincial Government is now accepting applications from organizations and communities interested in sponsoring projects funded under the Community Enhancement Employment Program.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly unanimously passed a private member’s motion today which supported the Provincial Government’s decision to provide a $2 million increase to the provincial tourism marketing budget, bringing the total budget to $13 million.

Natural Resources

The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources, will be in Grand Falls-Windsor tomorrow (Thursday, June 11) to attend the closing ceremonies of Duck Pond mine and mill. The event will take place at Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Minister Dalley will speak at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Child, Youth and Family Services

Mr. Speaker, the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission conducts an annual Safe Work Video/Radio Ad Contest which is open to Grade 7-12 junior and senior high school students. The contest encourages students to develop a video or radio ad to create awareness on preventing workplace injuries and illnesses.

Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Mr. Speaker I am pleased to report on yesterday’s Trade Renewal Ministers’ Meeting, which took place in conjunction with the full round of Internal Trade negotiations ongoing this week in Toronto.