“The biggest thing I am trying to do now is to try to answer questions that the people have” says MHA Lela Evans.
We spoke to MHA of the Torngat district on what advice she would like to give to her constituents.
She also speaks about the special sitting that happened at the house of assembly on Thursday.
Click here to hear more from MHA Lela Evans.
Premier Dwight Ball says income support will reach the hands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians from now until April 1st.
Ball says there are between 2,000 to 3,000 cheques ready to be sent off.
These provincial cheques would include income support, support enforcements and cheques for pensioners and landlords.
Ball says the government is also working with Canada Post since their shut down to ensure GST cheques, which include provincial supports for seniors and low income earners, will be delivered by April 3rd.
Canada Post will resume Kenmount Road operations on Monday, March 30th. They are prioritizing socio-economic cheques to ensure they are delivered as quickly as possible.
Story courtesy of VOCM.
Eastern Health has confirmed a “small number” of staff members who work on an acute care unit at the Health Sciences have tested positive for COVID-19. Health Minister John Haggie spoke with reporters couple days ago.
He says those staff are self isolating at home.
Haggie would only say the number of affected staff members is between 4 and 10. Eastern Health meanwhile is assuring the public that everything is being done to ensure the safety of staff, physicians and patients.
Eastern Health although the staff members were not at work on Tuesday, their close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate and contact tracing is ongoing.
Patients also have been informed and are being monitored for symptoms related to the illness. Eastern Health is working with staff from Infection Prevention and Control, Public Health and occupational Health to complete contact tracing on staff, doctors and patients.
Eastern Health says it has internal processes in place to report respiratory illness, and staff must report all potential communicable diseases to Occupational Health. In the meantime, the health authority says measures are in place to keep patients, residents, physicians and staff safe to reduce the risk of spreading infectious disease.
Those measures include deep cleaning in main areas, screening those entering health care facilities for COVID-19 through a series of questions, reduction of entry points into facilities, reduction is operating hours and the cancellation of appointments not deemed urgent or emergencies.
Courtesy from VOCM news.
Newfoundland and Labrador has 15 new cases of COVID-19 since Wednesday, bringing the province’s total to 82, said Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province’s chief medical officer of health on Thursday.
All new cases are within the Eastern Health region, said Fitzgerald.
The Eastern Health region accounts for 76 cases, two are in Central Health, one is in Western Health, and three are in Labrador-Grenfell Health. Everyone is recovering at home, said Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald said the ages of patients range from eight to 80, with a median age of 55.
Seven patients are under 19 years old, nine are between 20 and 39 years old, 12 are between 40 and 49 years old, 21 between 50 and 59 years old, 15 are between 60 and 69 years old, and 18 are older than 70.
“How we act now affects how this will unfold in our province,” Fitzgerald said. “This is our new reality and it won’t be over by Easter.”
Election for President set for May 5, 2020. Nunatsiavut’s First Minister Tyler Edmunds announced that the election for President of Nunatsiavut will be held on May 5, 2020, as per Section 3.4.3 of the Labrador Inuit Constitution.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Atlantic Standard Time (AST).
Nominations will close at 12 noon. (AST), on March 31, 2020, at the office of the Nunatsiavut Electoral Officer, 14 Corte Real Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL.
Advanced polls will be held on April 28, 2020 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (AST).
Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement are advised that measures will be implemented at all polling stations to prevent potential exposure and transmission of the coronavirus COVID-19.
Measures may include restricting the number of people at polling stations at the same time, and ensuring safe distances (of at least two metres) between all individuals.
Hand sanitizers will be available, and all areas within the polling stations will be disinfected regularly.
Additional measures may be implemented as required. Any inquiries regarding the election should be directed to Nunatsiavut Elections Officer, Nannette Blake.
She can be reached at (709) 896-5683, or by email at nannette.blake@nunatsiavut.com.
Click here to hear Blake talk about the upcoming Presidential election.
The Nunatsiavut Government today announced a number of initiatives aimed at assisting Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement deal with impacts associated with the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
The initiatives include providing support to food banks and community freezers (including those operated by the Sivunivut Inuit Community Corporation in North West River and the NunaKatiget Inuit Community Corporation in Happy Valley-Goose Bay/Mud Lake), and cleaning supplies and activity and games packages for children and families.
Funding is also being set aside for mental health initiatives, harvesting and home-heating programs.
“The initiatives announced today will enable us to provide much-needed supports to Beneficiaries during these difficult and uncertain times,” says Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe.
“While some of these programs will be put in place immediately, others will be rolled out once eligibility criteria has been developed. I want to assure Beneficiaries that the Nunatsiavut Government is working hard to protect their health, security and wellbeing.”
SUPPORT INITIATIVES
• Food Support Program: Financial assistance will be provided to support community food banks and freezer programs, including those operated by the Sivunivut and NunaKatiget Inuit community corporations. The funds will be used to purchase food for delivery to elders, families and individuals in need. Other food security initiatives, including access to traditional country foods, are being explored.
• Cleaning Supplies: Arrangements are being made to immediately provide a variety of household cleaners, disinfecting wipes, soap, etc. to families and individuals.
• Activity and Games: The Department of Health and Social Development will provide packages of coloring books and crayons, and a variety of games, etc. to Inuit children and families. Focus will initially be placed on those that access services from Family Connections, with plans to expand the program to others.
• Mental Health: Support packages, including items such as puzzles, games, etc. will be provided to promote mental wellness during self-isolation. Measures will also be implemented to enable individuals to connect directly with mental health workers.
• Home Heating: A program is being developed to ensure wood and fuel is provided to those in need.
“The Nunatsiavut Government will continue to explore ways to try and lessen the impacts of COVID-19 on our people and our communities,” says President Lampe. “We ask for cooperation and patience as we implement these initiatives in the days and weeks ahead.”
According to the Government of Canada website, the Canada Revenue Agency has set a New Tax filing and payment due dates to file your income tax return.
The due date for filling individual tax returns has been extended to June 1st, 2020.
Taxpayers will have until September 1st, 2020 to pay any 2019 income tax amounts owed to CRA.
You will be able to apply for the new Emergency support and emergency care benefits in my Account or using the dedicated phone line starting in April 2020.
For more information you can go on their website: www.cra.gc.ca to find out more information.
Today marks the 45th anniversary of the Labrador Inuit Association (or LIA).
LIA was officially established in October, 1973, but it wasn’t formally recognized until it was incorporated on March 26th, 1975.
The Nunatsiavut Government (NG) observes the incorporation and importance of the LIA with a statutory holiday.
The LIA transitioned into the Nunatsiavut Government on December 1, 2005, following the ratification of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement in June, 2005.
HAPPY LIA DAY to all beneficiaries!
According to Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald there is 32 new presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Western Health region has its first case, and appears to be related to international travel.
The remaining 31 new cases are in the Eastern Health region.
44 of the 61 cases in Eastern Health region are associated with CAUL’S FUNERAL HOME.
There are now COVID-19 cases in all Health Regions in the province.
The age range of patients is between 8 and 78 years of age.
No patients have been hospitalized to date.
1,336 people have been tested in the province as of today.
TOTAL CASES: 67
EASTERN HEALTH: 61
CENTRAL HEALTH: 2
WESTERN HEALTH: 1
LABRADOR- GRENFELL HEALTH: 3
Nunatsiavut Government is doing everything they can to help its constituents in regards to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Johannes Lampe is the President of NG.
He says in preventing the spread, people are to socialize distance, to not visit homes, wash their hands frequently, stay home, and follow what the clinics are telling you to do.
Click here to hear President Lampe tell you what NG is doing to help its constituents.