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LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Transportation Safety
Feb 11: Newfoundland announced that written tests for commercial classes of driver’s licence (Class 1,2,3,4) and air brake endorsements are now available online at MyGovNL. To take a commercial driver’s test, drivers must have a valid Class 5 licence for at least one year. An air brake endorsement is also required to drive vehicles equipped with air brakes.
Action Point: Find out how far you can go in disciplining workers for distracted and dangerous driving.
New Laws
Jan 27: Newfoundland rolled out new incentives to attract and retain paramedical staff, including a skills advancement program for emergency medical responders seeking to become primary care paramedics, a tuition relief program for primary care paramedic students and advanced care paramedic students, and an educational travel subsidy for paramedicine students for laboratory and clinical education.
New Laws
Feb 5: Newfoundland firm Atlas Salt Inc. received a repayable contribution of $1 million from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to support the company’s Mine Design & Optimization Initiative to explore use of low-emission battery-electric vehicles and optimize mine design. The project is expected to create up to 300 full-time construction jobs and 170 permanent positions.
Wellness
Mar 31: That’s the deadline for non-profits, municipalities, Indigenous Governments, Local Service Districts, and schools to apply for 2025-26 Active NL Fund assistance to support community-based active living initiatives, infrastructure, or equipment that will help directly increase physical activity, sport, and active recreation for individuals of all ages and abilities.
Workplace Violence
Jan 23: Newfoundland established a new government committee to combat gender-based violence in the province. It’s also calling on the RCMP-NL to adopt a new policy allowing for the anonymous storage of sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) kits used for collecting forensic evidence after a sexual assault occurs, which gives victims extra time to decide whether to make a police report at a later date.
Action Point: Find out how to implement an effective Workplace Violence and Harassment Compliance Game Plan at your site.
Workers’ Comp
Feb 10: Got a strong opinion on the province’s current workers’ comp system? From now through March 21, WorkplaceNL will be taking public comments on its new three-year strategic plan for improving the system.
Workers’ Comp
Feb 28: That’s the final day for Newfoundland and Labrador employers to submit their Annual Employer Statements to WorkplaceNL, including their: i. Employer Payroll Statement listing their actual payroll data for 2024; ii. Occupational Health and Safety Statement; and iii. Employer Contractor Statement.
CASES
None to report this month.
