Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and Member of Parliament for Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a $2.8-million investment to support three community-led clean energy projects across the northern coast of Labrador.

These projects will build capacity and help rural and remote communities reduce their reliance on diesel and fossil fuels for heat and power.

Each project is unique, but all of them share the same goals: building a clean energy future, supporting new economic opportunities and creating more energy-resilient communities by reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.

Member of Parliament for Labrador and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs, Yvonne Jones will visit Hopedale Thursday to meet with the Nunatsiavut Government and discuss federal funding for the Hopedale community and area.

Part of this visit will include the official announcement of the Rapid Housing Initiative project totalling over $5 million for 20 affordable housing units in Hopedale government.

In partnership with the federal government, the Nunatsiavut Government will see to the completion of this project by July 2021.

All announcements and funding highlights will be posted via MP Jones’ social media and website.

There was quite a lot of issues discussed during the Spring meeting of the Torngat Fish Producers Cooperative and its board of directors.

Keith Watts is the General manager.

He says the issues included going through the last meeting minutes, the financial report, membership, the two plants in Nain and Makkovik, fish products, and the upcoming Community Meetings, and the Annual General Meeting for June 9 in Nain.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut to hear more from Watts today.

Today, Tuesday, May 18, Newfoundland and Labrador has six new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There are five cases in the Eastern Health and one case in the Central Health region.

The first new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The second new confirmed case is a female in the Eastern Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The third new confirmed case is a female in the Eastern Health region between 50-59 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The fourth new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The fifth new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The sixth new confirmed case is a male in the Central Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

Contact tracing by Public Health is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

There is one new presumptive positive case in the Western Health region leaving a total of two presumptive positive cases in the province. Once presumptive positive cases are confirmed positive, they are reported in public updates as new confirmed cases.

There are nine confirmed cases related to the Codroy Valley and surrounding area, and three of those confirmed cases are associated with the school. There is no evidence of widespread community transmission in the Codroy Valley and surrounding area at this time.

There are 16 new recoveries, 15 in the Eastern Health region and one in the Central Health region and 1,116 people have recovered. One person is in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 83 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the 83 active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 37
· Central Health – 18
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 1
· Western Health – 27

To date, 139,856 people have been tested.

The 14 cases related to individuals that were on the ship anchored in Conception Bay have recovered and have left the province so they are no longer included in our active cases.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

First Light St. John’s Friendship Centre has an advertisement out for a Innu Cultural Support Worker.

Core Skill Set:

• Strong Teamwork Skills
• Strong Organizational Skills
• High Skills of Confidentiality
• Ability to Complete require documentation
• Strong knowledge of local community support services and resources
• Fluent in Innu-Aimun

Qualifications:

• Provide one-on one and family support to patients and escorts
• Provide Interpretation services for Innu patients during medical appointments
• Assist in the development and implantation of clients cultural support plan
• Report regularly on progress of client’s support plan and provide recommendations on future cultural support to the Aboriginal Patient Navigator (APN) team.

To apply online by Friday, May 28, 2021.

For more information contact Andrew Harvey, Director of Housing and Cultural Support at andrew@firstlightnl.ca or call 709-330-2893.

Canada Post Announces that the Post Office in Hopedale has moved.

The move was made yesterday, and they are now located at the building next to the clinic.

According to Christina Orton, the Local Arena Superintendent for Labrador, they cannot offer counter service, but mail can be picked up.

Thank you everyone for your patience as we settle into the new space. We are hoping to be at full service today or Wednesday.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Greg Flowers is pleased to announce the approval of multi-year designation policy for managing communal-commercial fishing assets held by Nunatsiavut Government. The new policy will come into effect on November 15, 2021.

“We are releasing the policy now to allow Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement additional time to read and understand the policy document”, notes Minister Flowers.” Our fishers have been requesting to enter into multi-year designation agreements with Nunatsiavut Government, to support their plans to move forward in the commercial fishery.”

The policy document allows for multi-year designation agreements, supposed by good business planning, and also recognizes the importance of the Labrador Inuit Tax Agreement to Nunatsiavut Government.

Due to the rapidly deteriorating ice conditions, Nain GSAR may not be able to respond quickly to a distress call if the risk is too great to the team members.

Rescue may be delayed until an aircraft can get to the area, weather dependant.

If someone is in need of urgent help contact the RCMP to activate Nain GSAR so that we can respond if safe or activate air support if needed.

Please tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.

Re-elected MHA of the Torngat Mountains District, Lela Evans was sworn in on April 12th, 2021.

She says one of her biggest priorities is making sure that the government lives up to their commitment for road to the North coast.

Evans says she has also been petitioning the government to increase the life block for electricity so that people would be able to afford to heat their house with electricity.

She adds that one of the things that she was looking at is ways for people to get the freight boat back with services from the island.

Click here to hear more from MHA Lela Evans.

Today, Monday, May 17, Newfoundland and Labrador has ten new confirmed cases of COVID-19. There are two cases in the Eastern Health, two cases in the Central Health region and six cases in the Western Health region.

The first new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 50-59 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The second new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region under 20 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The third new confirmed case is male in the Central Health region between 50-59 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The fourth new confirmed case is a female in the Central Health region between 50-59 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The fifth new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The sixth new confirmed case is a male in the Western Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The seventh new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region between 60-69 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The eighth new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region between 20-39 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The ninth new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

The tenth new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region between 50-59 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous case.

Contact tracing by Public Health is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

There is one new presumptive positive case in the Western Health region. Once presumptive positive cases are confirmed positive, they are reported in public updates as new confirmed cases. For example, the presumptive positive case reported Saturday, May 15 has now been confirmed positive and it is now included in the province’s total active case count.

There are nine confirmed cases related to the Codroy Valley and surrounding area, and three of those confirmed cases are associated with the school. There is no evidence of widespread community transmission in the Codroy Valley and surrounding area at this time.

There are two new recoveries in the Eastern Health region and 1,100 people have recovered. One person is in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 93 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the 93 active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 47
· Central Health – 18
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 1
· Western Health – 27

To date, 139,356 people have been tested. People can check their COVID-19 test results online.

The Nain Recreation bingos and the Nain Fire Brigade bingos will once again be held on 99.9 FM starting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 18, 2020.

Lisa Ivany is the Recreation Director with the Nain Inuit Community Government.

She says every bingo game will be broadcasted on the OKâlaKatiget Society 99.9 FM.

She is unsure where the bingo cards will be sold yet but will inform everyone once it becomes available.

Ivany adds that the bingo winnings can be picked up at here at the OKâlaKatiget building once bingo is finished.

Just a reminder that bingo is held on Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Friday’s.

Here are the following phone numbers to call in if you bingo:

922-2955, 2957, 2958, 2187, and 2896.