Torngat Wildlife, Plants and Fisheries Secretariat update.
Jamie Snook is the Executive Director.
He says the projects they got completed is the surveys they did on the moose and crab this past summer.
Snook added they are still working on the Fish Count that was this past summer up in Frazer River north of Nain.
He says they will probably work through part of the winter before it’s all finalized.
The Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, is pleased to advise that 96% of the initial 392,000 cost of living relief cheques have now been mailed to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador; and is thanking public service employees for their hard work in ensuring people received their cheques before Christmas.
Cheques were mailed to eligible residents based on their address on file with the Canada Revenue Agency as of June 2022. Cheques will continue to be mailed as more residents late file their 2021 tax returns. Those who file between October 1 and December 31, 2022, will receive their cheques once we receive the required information from Canada Revenue Agency. Residents who have not yet filed their 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador tax return are reminded that the deadline is December 31, 2022.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced on October 5, 2022 that it was issuing a one-time cost of living relief cheque of up to $500 to residents of the province who have reached the age of 18 years old as of December 31, 2022 and who filed a 2021 tax return with an adjusted income of $125,000 or less.
Those with adjusted income of less than $100,000 will receive $500 and those with adjusted income between $100,000 and $125,000 will receive a partial payment ranging between $250 and $500.
This one-time benefit is estimated to cost $194 million and is part of $430 million in targeted short and long term investments since March 2022 to help residents with the cost of living.
More information on the initiative is available online on the gov.nl.ca website.
If you have additional questions, please telephone Tax Administration Division at 1-877-729-6376. Please wait two weeks before calling to question the status of your cheque to allow time for Canada Post delivery. We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls and appreciate your patience.
The Nain Community Shed started doing a Kamutik making program for the community last week.
Susan Saksagiak is the Community Shed Coordinator.
She says there is a couple of people hired on as instructors to get a few people to drop in and learn how to make a Kamutik.
Click here to learn more of the Kamutik making program with Saksagiak.
The J.C Erhardt Memorial School Wolverines brought back a banner and gold to their home of Makkovik.
Brandon Connors is the coach of the wolverines.
He says the team went to the tournament from November 30 until December 5, 2022.
Logan Andersen got the Most Sportsman like award and Jesse Ford got the MVP.
The tournament was a good opportunity for the team to have fun and bring home the gold and the banner.
Click here to hear the Nain Huskies chant and parade from last Sunday.
Call out for volunteers for Nain’s checkpoint for Cain’s Quest 2023.
It will start and finish in Labrador City. The proposed race route will take teams through 18 checkpoints and 13 communities across Labrador.
Will also need another volunteer as check point lead.
In order to volunteer, you must sign up on the Cains Quest website or message Kristie Holwell on Facebook. If you don’t sign up on the site, you won’t be covered under their insurance and will not be allowed to volunteer.
There will be a meeting with volunteers in the new year just to go over rules and responsibilities.
Come join the crew for our check point and show off your good oh Nain hospitality. It would also be good for volunteer hours if you need them.
Full details on how to register can be found at www.cainsquest.com and on all official Cain’s Quest social media platforms.
Newfoundland and Labrador reported that one person has died of COVID-19 and added hospitalizations have fallen since last week’s update.
The provincial’s latest numbers released Wednesday at noon, show 15 people in hospital, including 5 in critical care. Last week 19 people were in hospital with 6 in critical care.
The person who died was in the 80’s category from Eastern Health.
The province also reported 173 new cases of COVID-19 since last week’s update, but the numbers don’t reflect the true prevalence of the disease since it only records positive PCR tests done by provincial health authorities, and does not include rapid tests done by the public on their own.
The province is approaching another milestone in the pandemic, with Thursday marking the 1,000th day since Newfoundland and Labrador registered its first presumptive positive case on March 14, 2020.
In the days since then, 279 people have died from COVID-19 in the province.
The moose meat is expected to be arriving to each of the 5 north coast communities next week.
Todd Broomfield is the Director of the Renewable Resources for NG.
He says he just got word from the butcher that the moose meat is expected to arrive Goose Bay on Monday, December 12 and will be sorting the meat when they arrive there.
He says the moose meat are in boxes and are packed in 40-50 pounds.
Labrador Marine Inc. (LMI) announced that with Monday’s departure of the Kamutik W from Goose Bay for ports to Nain, the 2022 season is drawing to a close.
The Kamutik W made 26 trips to the north coast and 8 trips to Black Tickle during the 2022 season. By the end of this trip north, all freight and cargo for coastal ports will have been delivered. As in previous years, passenger service continued until season’s end.
“The 2022 season marks the first time in three years that LMI has operated the service without public health travel restrictions that were imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said LMI President and CEO Peter Woodward. “Private vehicle traffic increased, passenger numbers were up, and cargo shipments were consistent with 2021. Those numbers will be adjusted slightly when December totals are finalized, but things have returned to normal. And it’s gratifying to know that we have delivered all freight and cargo destined for coastal communities.”
People planning to travel late in the season should be aware that there may be schedule changes due to weather conditions and the need to conclude freight operations. Passengers with reservations will be contracted by email should be a change in their itinerary.
Labrador Marine Inc. has begun planning for the 2023 season and has scheduled the first sailing to depart Goose Bay on Sunday, June 11 at 2pm. LMI will consult local government officials and users of the service as it commenced planning for next season.
There was a book launched called, “TauttukKonik, Looking Back” by the Nunatsiavut Creative group, Andrea Proctor and Candace Cochrane last evening.
Rutie Dicker is member of the Nunatsiavut Creative Group.
It took place at the NG Boardroom and says that it was a very good turnout.
Dicker adds that it took maybe four or five years to make the book.
Click here to hear more on the book launch with Dicker.
As the need for help increases, a food bank in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is giving out grocery store vouchers as well as food to people in need.
Jill Elson, community outreach worker at the Labrador Friendship Centre, which operates the food bank, told CBC News that people who comes to the Centre get items that the food bank has in house and a voucher for a local store.
She said we give the choice back to the individual on what they want to purchase.
The person can than to either of the grocery stores in Goose Bay and buy their choice of meat, vegetables, milk and eggs. Previously the food bank options on site were limited to milk, apples, oranges, and hamburger meat.
Elson said Labrador Friendship Centre has gotten a lot of positive feedback so far on its new voucher program and that it’s very, very busy, adding they try their best everyone who needs use of the food bank.
The rising food costs are having affect on the food bank users as well as the food bank’s own orders. The food bank uses over $6,000 on a recent order just 2 or 3 weeks ago and they are preparing another order because they are starting to run out of items.
Elson added everyone is feeling that crunch across Canada, but unfortunately those who are on fixed income support and low income, they’re really, really feeling it this time of the year.