Government of Newfoundland News

A building will be constructed within the new development between the Trans-Canada Highway and Humber River in Deer Lake and become the Deer Lake Regional Health Centre and home to the family care team servicing the Humber Valley-White Bay area. The advancement of family care teams is an important element in the Provincial Government’s plan to reimagine health care and help meet the health care needs of residents closer to home.

The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced the site location today in Deer Lake. He was joined for the announcement by Teara Freake, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Western Zone, NL Health Services, and His Worship Mike Goosney, Mayor of Deer Lake.

The new building will include offices and clinical space to support team-based care for health care professionals such as family physicians, registered nurses, and others.

The Department of Health and Community Services and NL Health Services anticipate a contract being awarded this spring and the new facility opening in 2025.

Budget 2024 includes a $4.1 billion investment in health care – the largest in the history of our province – including $30 million to hire additional health care providers for existing teams and to create new teams in the Baie Verte and Springdale region, Lewisporte, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, and downtown St. John’s.

Information on Requests for Proposals and tenders issued and awarded by the department and other public bodies is available by visiting www.merx.com/govnl.

Currently, more than 52,0000 people are connected to family care teams. More information on family care teams is available by visiting www.healthcareaction.ca.

Members of the public who do not currently have a primary care provider, such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner, are reminded to visit the Patient Connect NL website or call 1-833-913-4679 to register to become a Family Care Team patient.

Quotes
“This expanded health centre will mean health care professionals, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists and all members of the area’s family care team will be able to work in a collaborative environment in a modern building. We are looking forward to seeing this building open next year and establishing more family care teams in the province in the near future.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
MHA for Humber-Gros Morne

“This new health centre and the family care team in Deer Lake is a part of our plan to transform health care services in our province. The new building will make it easier and convenient for people in the area to get the health care they need. It is also another opportunity to work in a modern building in a collaborative environment that is welcomed by health care professionals, which will also help with our recruitment.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“NL Health Services is pleased with the announcement today from the Provincial Government to establish a new health centre for the Humber Valley region to enhance access to primary health care services and other community-based services. Having this new space for health care professionals to work together closely will strengthen collaboration for the benefit of patients in the area. The new family care team for the Humber Valley/White Bay area will meet the needs of clients and their families, reducing wait times for appointments, and support chronic disease prevention and management.”
Teara Freake
Vice-President and COO Western Zone, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services

-30-

Learn more
Follow us on X @GovNL and @HCS_GovNL

Like us on Facebook

The post Site Announced for New Deer Lake Regional Health Centre appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, will be available to the media today in response to concerns about school violence raised by the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association.

The media availability will take place in the lobby of West Block, Confederation Building at 2:30 p.m.

-30-

The post Media Advisory: Minister Howell Available to Media in Response to Concerns of Violence in Schools appeared first on News Releases.

Special Ballot voting is now available in the district of Fogo Island-Cape Freels.

Electors can request a vote by mail Special Ballot kit by visiting the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador website at www.elections.gov.nl.ca or they may vote in person at any of our office locations:

• District Returning Office located at Aspen Cove Fire Hall, 34 Aspen Main, in Aspen Cove; and
• Elections Newfoundland and Labrador’s head office at 24 Stavanger Drive in St. John’s.

Both offices are open for Special Ballot voting during the following hours:

• • Monday – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday – 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday – 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Friday – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Saturday – 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Sunday – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

There are three additional offices where residents can vote in person by Special Ballot:

• Fogo Island (1 Northshore Road, Fogo)
• Gander Bay North (Fire Hall, 247 Main Street, Gander Bay)
• Centreville-Wareham-Trinity (13 Pickett Ave, Centreville)

These offices are open during the following hours:

• • Monday – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday – 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Friday – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The deadline to request a vote by mail Special Ballot kit, or to vote in person by Special Ballot is Monday, April 8, at 6:00 p.m.

For more information, contact the Fogo Island-Cape Freels Returning Office at 709-690-1563, or Elections Newfoundland and Labrador toll-free at 1-877-729-7987 or visit www.elections.gov.nl.ca

-30-

The post Special Ballot Voting Begins in Fogo Island-Cape Freels By-election appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, today announced an investment of $634,000 to the Centre for Research and Innovation for skills development in the tech sector.

The three-year investment will support the development and implementation of micro-credential and certified programming to help meet shortages in the province’s tech workforce by upskilling participants in a timely manner. In total, eight micro-credentials and four certificates will be developed in the first year, and then implemented in the second and third years.

Funding is provided through the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement.

The Centre for Research and Innovation is a partnership between Grenfell Campus, Memorial University; College of the North Atlantic; and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper. The Centre supports applied research and teaching with a focus on bio, green, circular economies and entrepreneurship across all sectors of the western regional economy.

Quotes
“This investment puts innovations into action. With the fast pace of change and our evolving demand for skilled labour, targeted and responsive skills recognition is playing an increasingly important role. When implemented, this new accredited and certified programming will enhance the skillset of current and future technology workers and widen the range of professional work available in the province.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

“The technology sector in Newfoundland and Labrador has emerged as a significant economic driver for our province and we expect that growth to expand. The Provincial Government continues to collaborate with sector partners with the collective goal of growing the industry and stimulating new private sector investment and employment in the province.”
Honourable Siobhan Coady
Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance

“Grenfell Campus prides itself on being an integral part of the regional economy. Through the Centre for Research and Innovation, we advance this part of our mandate, providing a unique technology and innovation hub.  We’re delighted to bring together the expertise of our researchers and CRI resources and partners to advance initiatives that support sustainable growth. With this financial support, new programs will be developed that prepare our population to meet the vast potential of our tech economy.”
Dr. Ian Sutherland
Vice-President, Grenfell Campus

“When we announced this centre four years ago we saw it as an opportunity to ensure our future workforce would be ready to meet industry demands and that it would be a hub of learning, skills development and retraining. Today’s funding announcement, and the micro-credentialing and certificate training that will result, reinforces that original vision and adds a new, critical dimension that will help our Centre for Research and Innovation achieve its mandate. We applaud the province for its foresight in this area.”
Elizabeth Kidd
President and CEO, College of the North Atlantic

-30-

The post Provincial Government Invests $634,000 for Skills Programming to Help Meet Tech Labour Demand appeared first on News Releases.

The deadline to register tourist accommodations with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation is being extended from March 31 to June 30, 2024.

In April 2023, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador proclaimed the new Tourist Accommodations Act and Regulations with an aim to strengthen operating rules for short-term accommodations in the province.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation now has 2,200 registrations, showing excellent cooperation among tourism operators. This deadline extension will provide additional time to process these registrations and update the various partner platforms.

Registration is a one-time, cost-free process. It provides the provincial government with a fulsome look at short-term accommodations across the province.

The Tourist Accommodations Act requires all tourist accommodations to comply with applicable municipal and provincial regulations, including the requirement for fire inspections and taxation.

Further details on the Tourist Accommodations Act, including the regulations can be found online.

Quote
“The response to our new registration process has been tremendous. I am really pleased with the response thus far and feel confident that the new Tourist Accommodations Act and Regulations are serving their purpose. This new, robust registry of tourist accommodations will inevitably improve the tourism experiences we offer and strengthen the industry as a whole.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

-30-

Learn more
New Tourist Accommodations Act and Regulations Proclaimed

Follow us on X @GovNL and @TCAR_GovNL

Like us on Facebook

The post Deadline to Register Tourist Accommodations Extended to June 30 appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, will highlight Budget 2024 at the Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade luncheon today (Tuesday, March 26).

The event will take place at Greenwood Inn and Suites, 48 West Street, Corner Brook, beginning at 12:00 p.m. Minister Coady will be joined by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and MHA for Corner Brook, and Scott Reid, MHA for St. George’s-Humber.

Budget 2024 is focused on transforming our health, our economy and our province. More information is available here.

The Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade serves entrepreneurs and the business community of Corner Brook, Bay of Islands, and Humber Valley.

-30-

The post Media Advisory: Minister Coady to Address Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and MHA for Humber – Gros Morne, will make an announcement related to health care tomorrow (Tuesday, March 26) in Deer Lake.

The event will take place at 1:00 p.m. at the Hodder Memorial Recreation Complex.

Premier Furey will be joined by Teara Freake, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Western Zone, NL Health Services, and Deer Lake Mayor Mike Goosney.

-30-

The post Media Advisory: Health Care Infrastructure Announcement in Deer Lake appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, and the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, will announce funding to support skills development, Tuesday, March 26, at the Centre for Research and Innovation, 1 Mill Road in Corner Brook. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m.

-30-

The post Media Advisory: Ministers to Announce Funding at Centre for Research and Innovation appeared first on News Releases.

Today, the Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health, and the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced a bilateral agreement to invest almost $256 million to improve health care access and services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Through the Working Together Agreement, the Government of Canada will provide nearly $256 million to support Newfoundland and Labrador’s three-year action plan to deliver improvements to its health care system. The plan will:

• Expand access to family health services

• • Increase access to primary care by continuing to add new family care teams, creating urgent care centres to service the Northeast Avalon, and adding new positions to implement the Child and Youth Community Health Services Model.

• Increase health workers and health services to reduce backlogs

• • Institute models of care that address surgical backlogs and increase access to health services, including by expanding orthopedic surgeries in Carbonear.
  • Support models of care that enable health care providers, including pharmacists, to expand their scope of practice by prescribing more medications.
  • Pilot a new physician assistants program and continue to increase midwifery positions across the province.
  • Increase the number of targeted incentive programs for difficult to fill positions and increase programs designed to increase retention of health care workers, including programs to support career development.
  • Add new undergraduate medical education seats and new Family Medical Residency positions for international medical graduates at Memorial University.

• Increase mental health and substance use services

• • Increase the number of people with access to mental health teams.
  • Improve access to services for rural and Indigenous communities and offer community-based services, substance use support, and innovative online mental health services.

• Modernize health data systems to ensure more patients can access care

• • Increase the number of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who can access their own health record electronically.
  • Expand virtual care for rural and remote communities.
  • Implement a province-wide emergency response dispatch centre.

Progress on these initiatives and broader commitments will be measured against targets which Newfoundland and Labrador will publicly report on annually.

Through this new agreement, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will work with the Government of Canada to improve how health information is collected, shared, used and reported to; streamline foreign credential recognition for internationally educated health professionals; facilitate the mobility of key health professionals within Canada; and fulfill shared responsibilities to uphold the Canada Health Act to protect Canadians’ access to health care based on need, not the ability, to pay.

Recognizing the significant disparities in Indigenous health outcomes, the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador also commit to meaningfully engaging and working together with Indigenous partners to support improved access to quality and culturally appropriate health care services. Newfoundland and Labrador’s action plan is informed by continued engagement with its Indigenous partners and supported by trilateral discussions involving the Federal Government. All levels of government will approach health decisions in their respective jurisdictions through a lens that promotes respect and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Newfoundland and Labrador and the Federal Government will continue working together to improve health services for all patients across the province, including responding to the needs of rural, remote, Indigenous and other underserved and disadvantaged populations.

Quotes
“We are proud to be transforming health care in Newfoundland and Labrador based on the recommendations of Health Accord NL. We are grateful for agreements with the Federal Government, such as this Working Together Agreement, that allow us to build on what we have already accomplished and to continue to create more family care teams, recruit more health care professionals, and increase health care services to more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Our government is committed to improving the health and well-being of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Our best-in-class recruitment efforts are working. Family care teams and virtual care are ensuring more people get the care they need when the need it. We are increasing supports and access to mental health and addictions services to those most in need. By working together with our Federal partners and our stakeholders, we will continue to lead in modernizing and transforming health care, for the betterment of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

“This agreement marks a significant advancement for our health care system, promising improved care for residents and improving the overall resilience of our health care infrastructure. Tailored to Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique requirements, this agreement ensures enhanced health care services for all residents.”
Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health

“Under the Working Together agreement, we’re partnering with Newfoundland and Labrador to improve mental health and substance use services for residents, including Indigenous communities, focusing on culturally informed care to improve access to quality and timely mental health and substance use supports. Together, we must ensure that all Canadians have access to supports and services for their mental health and well-being – when they need them, wherever they need them.”
Honourable Ya’ara Saks
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

“From the tip of the Torngats to St. John’s Harbour, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians young and old need quality health care. This plan will make sure folks have access to the care that meets their needs, in communities large and small.”
Honourable Gudie Hutchings
Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

-30-

Learn more
Follow us on X @GovNL and @HCS_GovNL

Like us on Facebook

The post Provincial and Federal Governments Sign Bilateral Agreement to Improve Health Care Over Three Years appeared first on News Releases.

Candidate nominations closed at 2:00 p.m. today, March 25, for the Fogo Island-Cape Freels By-Election. The three officially nominated candidates are as follows:

Cape Freels BLACKMORE, Dana Liberal Party GILL, Jim New Democratic Party McKENNA, Jim Progressive Conservative Party

Advance polls will be open on Monday, April 8 (8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.).

By-Election day is Monday, April 15 (8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.).

Special Ballot voting is also available for anyone who would like to avail of the option. Electors may request a vote by mail kit online, or they may vote in person by Special Ballot at the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador’s headquarters (24 Stavanger Drive) or the district Returning Office (Fire Hall, 34 Aspen Main, Aspen Cove), until 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 8.

For more information, call the Fogo Island-Cape Freels Returning Office at 709-690-1563, Elections Newfoundland and Labrador toll-free at 1-877-729-7987, or visit www.elections.gov.nl.ca

-30-

Media contact
Rexanne Eddy
Communications & Training Manager
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
709-729-1474
rexanneeddy@electionsnl.ca

The post Official Candidates for the Fogo Island-Cape Freels By-Election appeared first on News Releases.

The Provincial Government is reminding employers the minimum wage will increase by 60 cents to $15.60 per hour, effective April 1, 2024.

-30-

The post Public Advisory: Employers Reminded of Minimum Wage Increase, April 1 appeared first on News Releases.

The Provincial Government is offering a COVID-19 bivalent vaccine as a spring booster dose to specific populations identified by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. These populations include:

• Adults 65 years of age and older.
• Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors.
• Individuals six months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised due to an underlying condition or treatment.

The vaccine will be available until May 1, 2024.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who do not meet the criteria above and have not received a booster dose during the fall 2023 campaign still have access to COVID-19 vaccines. Please visit our website for eligibility.

Individuals can book appointments by visiting TimeForTheShot.ca. Individuals can also receive the COVID-19 vaccine at participating pharmacies.

The COVID-19 vaccine remains an important tool to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 as well as reducing the risk of severe disease.

Public Health continues to monitor the evidence and evolving epidemiology of COVID-19 and will provide additional guidance as needed.

-30-

The post Public Advisory: Update on COVID-19 Spring Booster Campaign appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Krista Lynn Howell, Minister of Education, is today announcing the opening of nominations for the fourth annual Premier’s Award for Teaching Innovation and the Minister of Education’s Award for Compassion in Teaching.

The Premier’s Award for Teaching Innovation recognizes primary, elementary or secondary teachers in all disciplines who have demonstrated innovation in instruction and a commitment to preparing their students for future success.

The Minister of Education’s Award for Compassion in Teaching recognizes inspirational and compassionate teachers at the primary, elementary or secondary level who have gone above and beyond to support the social, emotional and mental health of their students, colleagues or school community as a whole.

These awards recognize teaching excellence in areas that are meaningful and impactful for K-12 students in Newfoundland and Labrador. Information on the awards is available here and the deadline for submissions is April 19, 2024.

Quotes
“Educators in this province continue to demonstrate exceptional skills in teaching, innovation, and compassion. It is an honour and a pleasure to offer this opportunity for teachers to be recognized in such a prestigious manner, and to celebrate them alongside their school community for their outstanding work to support students’ educational experience.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“The Teaching Awards are just one way that our government aims to recognize the important contribution that teachers and educators make each day. I encourage students, teachers, colleagues and administrators to nominate an exceptional teacher in their school or community.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Education

-30-

Learn more
Premier and Minister Teaching Awards 2024

Prix de l’enseignement 2024

Recipients of 2023 Teaching Awards Announced

Annonce des lauréates des Prix de l’enseignement 2023

Follow us on X @GovNL and @EDU_GovNL

Like us on Facebook

The post Provincial Government Announces Call for Nominations for Premier and Minister’s Teaching Awards appeared first on News Releases.

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is committed to ensuring children and youth in Newfoundland and Labrador receive the best possible health services, including mental health services. Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children and Youth (UNCRC) states that children have the right to the best health care possible. This includes mental health services, resources, and supports.

As part of its mandate, the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate aims to ensure that the rights and interests of children and youth are protected and advanced and their views are heard and considered. The Advocate invites young people and families who have direct experience with the mental health system here in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as professionals and other stakeholders, to reach out to the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate in confidence to share their experiences and ideas. Opportunities to meet with OCYA staff directly will happen throughout the province over the coming weeks.

“Since being appointed as the Advocate in 2022, I have become increasingly concerned about the mental health outcomes for children and youth in our province. As part of my role and the role of the Office, we have to be sure that mental health services are available, effective, responsive, and relevant to children and youth”. The Child and Youth Advocate, Linda Clemens-Spurrell.

If you are interested in participating, we welcome you to contact us using any of the following:

Email: office@ocya.nl.ca
Telephone: 709-753-3888
Toll Free: 1-877-753-3888
Text: 709-682- OCYA (6292)

In-Person: 193 LeMarchant Road, Suite 100, St. John’s

-30-

Media contact
Wilma MacInnis
Office of the Child and Youth Advocate
709-753-3888
wilmamacinnis@ocya.nl.ca

The post Child and Youth Advocate Invites Feedback About Mental Health Services to Children and Youth appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, will join the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health, and the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, for an important health care announcement today (Monday, March 25), at 2:00 p.m.

The announcement will take place at the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook.

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

There will be a media availability following the announcement.

-30-

The post Media Advisory: Federal Funding Announcement for Health Care appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, issued the enclosed statement regarding meetings held with FFAW and some of its harvester members.

“Earlier today, I met with Greg Pretty, President of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW), and some of the union’s harvester members to continue discussions regarding agreeable changes that will move the fishing industry forward for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, particularly those in more rural communities.

I am pleased to share that it was a productive meeting that has led to positive outcomes intended to support FFAW harvesters, plant workers, and all stakeholders in our province’s valuable fishing industry. We all share the same goal of seeing an organized start to the 2024 fishing season.

Our government will continue to work with the FFAW, the Association of Seafood Producers, and other fisheries stakeholders on these and other issues in the fishery as we continue to recognize the value of the industry and the hard-working individuals working within it.”

-30-

The post Statement from Minister Loveless on Fisheries Discussions appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the following relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Crown Zone 5 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan Amendment (2021-2025)

Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture (Reg.2295)                                                                                                

The Proponent is proposing an amendment to the Crown Zone 5 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan (2021-2025). The Project is proposed in Forest Management District 12, approximately 20 kilometres southwest of the Town of Badger, along Route 370. The amendment would include commercial and domestic harvesting over 1,980 hectares of land. This proposal would be within the overall Annual Allowable Cut for the Forestry Plan. A description of the project can be found on the department’s webpage at www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on March 21, 2024; the deadline for public comment is April 26, 2024, and the minister’s decision is due by May 4, 2024.

Comments may be sent to: EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

Learn more
Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Climate Change
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6

Environmental assessment information is available at:

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_Jan-2024.pdf

Follow us on X @GovNL and @ECC_GovNL

Project comments may be sent to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca

Anyone submitting comments on a project under environmental assessment is asked to please advise the department if they DO NOT wish to have their comments shared with the project proponent.

The post Environmental Assessment Bulletin appeared first on News Releases.

Artists and arts organizations make meaningful contributions to Newfoundland and Labrador’s vibrancy, and the well-being of our communities. In continued celebration of the Year of the Arts and as part of Budget 2024, the Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation, is proudly announcing a Creative Projects Fund.

The fund is open to not-for-profit and for-profit professional arts organizations that have the creation and/or presentation of works of art as their primary activity. This includes professional arts organizations with a focus on performing arts; film, media, and digital arts; visual arts; literary arts; and interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary arts.

The Creative Projects Fund presents a unique opportunity for professional arts organizations to pursue a single, large-scale and/or wide-reaching project of cultural significance.

Projects must meet two or more of the following criteria:

• Be presentation or market-ready in 2024.
• Be delivered in multiple regions of Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Be a new initiative or significant new extension of an existing project.
• Have secured a minimum of 30 per cent of the total project cost (excluding any operational expenses) from non-provincial government sources at the time of application.

The Creative Projects Fund will be delivered by Celebrate NL. Submissions can be made beginning on Monday, March 25, and are due no later than May 15, 2024. Submissions will be considered as they are received.

More information can be found on Celebrate NL’s website.

Quote
“The Creative Projects Fund is an exciting way to tip our hats to the arts and cultural sector in this province. With this fund, we are enabling professional arts organizations to pursue their ‘big ideas’ for the Year of the Arts. I am certain we are going to see some incredible results. I encourage all interested organizations to get their submissions in ahead of the May 15 deadline.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

-30-

Learn more
Year of the Arts 2024

Celebrate NL

Follow us on X @GovNL and @TCAR_GovNL

Like us on Facebook

The post Minister Crocker Announces Budget 2024 Creative Projects Fund for Year of the Arts appeared first on News Releases.

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, announced today that the second statutory review of the Personal Health Information Act is complete.

The Department of Health and Community Services engaged INQ Consulting to assist with a statutory review of the Act to assess whether there should be changes to modernize the Act. A statutory review committee was established with representatives from INQ Consulting and officials from the Department of Health and Community Services.

The report outlines recommendations in the following areas:

• Privacy protections
• Access to health data and interoperability
• Data and innovation
• Monitoring and oversight
• Consent
• Literacy and Social license

The committee’s report is available at www.phiareviewnl.ca. The recommendations outlined in the report are currently being reviewed by the department.

The statutory committee consulted a broad range of stakeholders to ensure various perspectives were duly considered. Stakeholders included members of the public, Indigenous groups, patient councils, government departments and agencies in the province, associations, and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.

The committee gathered information and opinions in a systematic manner that allowed stakeholders and individuals to bring forth the issues that mattered to them through the collection of written submissions, as well as survey responses.

Proclaimed in 2011, the Personal Health Information Act is required to undergo a review once every five years. The Act establishes rules that custodians of personal health information must follow when collecting, using, and/or disclosing individuals’ personal health information.

Quote
“A review of the Personal Health Information Act helps us modernize the legislation and ensure that it continues to serve its purpose efficiently. This review and the valuable input provided by stakeholders will now help us determine next steps for the Act.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services

-30-

Learn more
Public Consultations Beginning on Modernization of Personal Health Information Act

Statutory Review of Personal Health Information Act to Begin

Follow us on X @GovNL and @HCS_GovNL

Like us on Facebook

The post Provincial Government Releases Personal Health Information Act Report appeared first on News Releases.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions on the CN Viaduct portion of Pitts Memorial Drive, beginning today (Friday, March 22) and will remain in place for the duration of the upcoming construction season.

The reduction is necessary to facilitate repair work on the bridge.

Motorists are asked to pay attention to traffic control.

Information on active highway construction projects and repairs is also available by visiting nl511.ca and on the NL 511 mobile app.

-30-

The post Public Advisory: Lane Reductions on Pitts Memorial Drive appeared first on News Releases.