Legislation aimed at improving the health and safety of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, advancing Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, moving toward improved access for persons with disabilities, and greater transparency and accountability of government operations, highlighted an ambitious and busy fall in the House of Assembly.

During this sitting, an aggressive legislative agenda was accomplished with a number of new and significant Acts passed. Some prominent pieces of legislation include:

• Off-road Vehicles Act – tightens rules and regulations for users of ATVs, snowmobiles and side by sides, and includes stiffer fines for those who choose to ignore the law, all with the health and safety of operators and the general public in mind.
• Auditor General Act – strengthens the Office of the Auditor General through ensuring the Office’s independence while enhancing access to information and increasing transparency on how public funds and other resources are used.
• Securities Act – allows for greater protection of peoples’ financial investments and includes provisions that enhance the power of certain regulatory authorities
• Renaming Red Indian Lake Act and Coat of Arms Act – respectively changes the name of the Central Newfoundland body of water to Beothuk Lake, and changes the province’s Coat of Arms to include Labrador in the name of the province and remove the word ‘savages.’ Both pieces of legislation were drafted after consultations with Indigenous leaders and opportunities for members of the general public to provide input through engageNL.
• Municipal Conduct Act – governs conflict of interest, ethical behaviour and professional conduct for all municipalities and towns across the province, leading to safer and more respectful workplaces.
• Accessibility Act – an important step that allows government to outline the principles and goals for an accessible Newfoundland and Labrador by preventing, identifying and removing barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from full participation in society.
• Adoption Act – strengthens adoption legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador and recognizes the unique rights and needs of Indigenous children and their families in the adoption process.
• Adult Protection Act – strengthens the rights of adults involved in the adult protection process and protects those who are at risk of abuse, neglect and/or self-neglect, and who do not understand or appreciate that risk.

To see the full legislative agenda, visit Progress of Bills on the House of Assembly’s website.

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“This was a very busy session which saw the advancement of important legislation that will have significant impacts on many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Anytime we review and amend existing legislation or introduce new acts, our aim is to protect the people and strengthen our province. I am confident that we accomplished those goals during this sitting and I thank my colleagues in the House of Assembly for their cooperation and thoughtful debate.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Government House Leader

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Media contact
Luke Joyce
Executive Council
709-729-0084
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca