Month in Review – Newfoundland and Labrador

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Month in Review – Newfoundland and Labrador

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LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Laws

Sep 11: The newly announced Churchill River Electricity Rebate will provide Newfoundland and Labrador residents a 15% rebate on their first 2,000 kWh of electricity usage per month. Households in the province use, on average, approximately 1,400 to 1,500 kWh of electricity per month.

New Laws

Aug 17: The Governments of Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Québec, and their respective Hydro utilities announced what is being described as the largest clean energy investment in the history of North America—a $10 billion package to expand clean electricity generation and transmission in Labrador via upgrades to Churchill Falls, development of the Gull Island hydroelectric project. The resulting infrastructure will enable the development of critical minerals in the Labrador Trough. Under the agreement, the federal government will guarantee the financing to develop the massive Gull Island power project.

New Laws

Sep 2: Newfoundland and Labrador inked an agreement with Ottawa providing for a “one project, one review” system of environmental regulatory assessment. As a result, proponents of projects subject to both provincial and environmental laws will need only approval and not have to go through duplicative environmental assessment.

New Laws

Aug 27: The federal government announced $1 million in support for a $10 million investment to advance NordSpace’s Atlantic Spaceport Complex (ASX) in St. Lawrence. ASX is expected to host Canada's first commercial space launch vehicles and help secure Canada's sovereign access to space. The province is also contributing $4 million and NordSpace is investing $5 million of its own capital.

Privacy

Sep 1: From now through September 30, Newfoundland and Labrador will accept public comments as part of its review of the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA). Among the key issues is young people’s privacy rights and decision-making authority to ensure that the roles of young people, parents, or guardians and health-care providers are clearly addressed in decisions involving personal health information.

Action Point: Find out about the 12 things you should do to prevent employee data breaches at your workplace

Training

Aug 18: OHS fall protection certification training requirements for working at heights of three metres or more are changing. Starting January 1, 2027, a new 8-hour Working at Heights training course will replace the 16-hour course. When certificates expire, workers must complete the new 8-hour course to renew certification. Certificates will still remain valid for three years.

Action Point: Find out about the rules governing whether employees are entitled to be paid for training time.