In light of recent developments related to COVID-19 and the discovery of a new variant in the province, the Provincial Government is providing an update on important services it provides.

The Provincial Government will be operating at a reduced capacity which means there will likely be delays in service delivery. The nature and type of service provided is subject to change over the next few days and weeks as government continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The health of public service employees and members of the general public is paramount and as such, support and patience is appreciated. Whenever possible, please take the advice of the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and stay home.

If you must visit a government office, it is recommended that you call ahead. As well, the Provincial Government is pleased to offer a variety of services through our Digital Government Online Services.

For general inquiries related to government services, please call 1-833-771-0696 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday or email covid19info@gov.nl.ca any time. The public is reminded that all health-related questions should be directed to 811 or www.811healthline.ca.

SERVICES CONTINUING AS PER NORMAL OPERATIONS

Children, Seniors and Social Development

• All referrals of child and youth abuse and neglect will continue to be assessed and actioned through the central line (1-833-552-2368)

Digital Government and Service NL

• Many services are available online
• 24 hour phone line for Occupational Health and Safety incidents and complaints; responses will be based on assessment of the risk to life and health
• 24 hour phone line for Environmental Health and Protection accidents and complaints; responses will be based on assessment of the risk to health and safety
• Water testing services
• Highway enforcement operations
• Electrical and boiler pressure inspections
• Fire and Life Safety inspections
• Environmental Health and Environmental Protection inspections
• Engineering and Inspection services prioritized on the basis of risk
• Building Accessibility Appeal Tribunal hearings will continue via teleconference
• Issuance of new licences for the real estate and insurance industries
• Processing of residential construction rebate program payment requests

Education

• Adult Basic Education payments to service providers under existing contracts

Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities

• Water resources and groundwater services
• Environmental assessments and permitting
• Regional Appeal Board hearings will continue virtually

Finance

• Telephone and email support and assistance for general inquires, including tax and residential construction rebate program

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

• Aquatic animal health and animal health veterinary services, including animal health pharmacy
• Animal health diagnostic/food Safety laboratory
• Soils and feed laboratory
• Nuisance wildlife control
• Resource enforcement
• Wildlife licensing
• Wildland fire suppression services will be available when the forest fire season begins

 Immigration, Skills and Labour

• Income Support, including basic benefits, applications, and emergency assistance
• Income and Employment Support Appeal Board hearings will continue virtually
• Employment and Training Services
  • Employment Centre Services continue to be available by telephone at 1-800-563-6600 and email at employmentprograms@gov.nl.ca
  • Individual case managed services through telephone and email
  • Benefits to individuals under existing training programs, including Skills Development Training Programs and Adult Basic Education
  • Benefits to employers under existing agreements
  • Funding for existing community partner agreements
  • Project based programs, such as wage subsidies or training agreements
  • New applications for individuals supports, such as skills training
• Apprenticeship benefits to training institutions under existing agreements and general inquiries at app@gov.nl.ca
• Labour Standards, including advisory services can be accessed by telephone (Province-wide toll free at 1-877-563-1063 or in the St. John’s area 709-729-2742 or email labourstandards@gov.nl.ca
• Labour Relations conciliation and mediation services
• Immigration and Multiculturalism
  • Screening and processing of immigration applications‎
  • Employers and approved nominees or endorsees, or individuals with applications in the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism should email immigration@gov.nl.ca to provide any updates regarding COVID-19 impacts on employment, job offers, or immigration status
  • General information on immigration available at gov.nl.ca/immigration/.
• Essential Worker Support Program applications and payments continue to be processed. Inquiries may be directed to essentialworkers@gov.nl.ca

Industry, Energy and Technology

• Payment processing will continue for clients
• Business and economic development funding programs will continue to accept applications
• Quarry, mineral rights and mining regulatory services will continue

Justice and Public Safety

• Fire and Emergency Services
• Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
• Corrections (reduction in programming and visitation)
• Policing
• Serious Incident Response Team

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

• Emergency shelter line and provision of related shelter services
• Emergency move-ins and transfers in social housing units, including rent supplement program
• Emergency maintenance in social housing units
• Emergency repair applications under the home repair programs (homeowners)
• Payroll and invoice processing

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Ferry services, air ambulance, road maintenance services including snow and ice control
• Waterbombing services will be available when the forest fire season begins

Treasury Board Secretariat

• Telephone support and assistance for pensions, group insurance and general treasury board inquiries (1-888-729-7690)
• Payment processing, including invoices, claims and supplier forms
• Cash receipting online, by mail or drop off into a secure box at Confederation Building

SERVICES THAT ARE MODIFIED OR AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Children, Seniors and Social Development

• Child protection, children in care, youth corrections, youth services, kinship services, behavioural management services, provincial adoptions, and adult protection services (in collaboration with regional health authorities) will continue with some modifications
• In office visits and access will be by appointment only

Digital Government and Service NL

• Vital Statistics: Requests for documents should be completed online. Documents will be provided by mail, fax, or email. Where documents are required immediately, counter service is available by appointment only by calling 1-709-729-3308. Persons submitting documents should use the drop-box at the Government Service Centre in Mount Pearl

• Motor Registration Division (MRD) and Government Service Centres:
  • All typical front counter services are available by appointment only, noting that booking for MRD services across the province is available online
  • Services available online include address changes, drivers’ licence renewals, driver permit testing (Class 5), vehicle renewals and notice of sale, electrical permits, electrical contractor renewal, request a driver record (abstract), duplicate registration, fleet renewals, and commercial vehicle renewals. In-person counter services are available by appointment only by calling 1-877-636-6867. Appointments for the Mount Pearl office may also be made online
  • Written testing for driver licences will be available online only
  • Persons submitting documents may use the drop-box available

• Commercial Registries (companies, deeds, and others): Searches should be completed online where possible. For documents not available online (pre-1982), an appointment to conduct a manual search is required and can be arranged by calling 1-709-729-3316. Persons submitting documents to the registries should use the drop-box available
• Consumer protection, licensing, and residential tenancy services: Counter services will no longer be available but services are available by email or telephone at 1-877-829-2608. Residential tenancy dispute adjudications for urgent health and safety disputes will be completed by teleconference

Education

• Childcare payments, including operating grant and subsidy payments

• High School Certification
• Teacher Certification

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

• Walk-in services are no longer available but telephone, online and email services continue to be available for the following:
• Crown lands administration, air photo map library and Crown lands vault may be accessed by appointment only by calling 1-833-891-3249
• Forestry permitting, including commercial and domestic woodcutting. In-person appointments available if necessary by contacting your local forestry office
• Agriculture business development
• Fisheries and aquaculture licensing and business development

Immigration, Skills and Labour

• Labour Standards exemption requests and clearance certificates
• Workforce Development Secretariat workforce adjustment supports in case of business downturn and closures

Industry, Energy and Technology

• Staff will continue to provide service throughout the province, virtually or by phone
• Mineral rights registry searches – by appointment only

Justice and Public Safety

• Walk-in services are no longer available for various offices but email and telephone services are available for the following:
  • Human Rights Commission
  • Office of the Public Trustee
  • RNC Complaints Commission
  • Probation Office
  • Victim Services Office
  • Family Justice Services
  • Legal Aid
  • Public Prosecutions
  • Fines Administration
  • Support Enforcement

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

• Application processing for non-emergency move-ins and transfers in social housing units, including rent supplement programs
• Application processing for non-emergency repairs under home repair programs (homeowners)

SERVICES THAT ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED 

Children, Seniors and Social Development

• Interprovincial and inter country adoptions will be temporarily suspended

Digital Government and Service NL

• Walk-in front counter service at all regional service delivery offices, as well as Motor Registration Division (all in-person services are available through appointment only)
• General inspections to be suspended – emergency only based on assessment of risk to the environment, public/worker health and safety
• In-person driver permit testing (class 5) as it is now available online
• Practical driver examinations (on-road testing) are suspended. Commercial driver testing will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if deemed urgent
• Public access to the Queen’s Printer
• Issuing of charitable lottery licenses

 Education

• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
  • Provincially funded ABE programs and Literacy Tutoring Services
  • Issuance of transcripts indicating proof of high school equivalency
• Private Training Institutions (PTIs):
  • Effective immediately, all PTIs along with provincially supported ABE classes and literacy tutoring services, have suspended in-person classes and are implementing plans for alternate program delivery methods, including on-line where possible (all PTI inquiries can be directed to Regan Power at reganpower@gov.nl.ca)
  • Issuance of transcripts, diplomas or other educational verification, including Post-secondary Instructor certificates
  • New program applications, instructor approvals, on-site visits and other activities related to the administration of the Private Training Institutions Act
• Student Aid
  • Counter services and in-person client meetings are suspended – MUN Coughlan College
  • Student Aid phone services are suspended. Individuals are encouraged to contact Student Aid via emailstudentaidenquiry@gov.nl.ca
  • If applicants need to submit documents/forms, please continue to submitted electronically atstudentaidmailbox@gov.nl.ca
  • Applicants can continue to access their online accounts at Student Aid – Education

Immigration, Skills and Labour

• Income Support supplementary benefits (i.e., vision care, job start), counter services and outreach
• In-person Employment Centre and outreach services (i.e., counter services, career counselling and employment planning)
• Labour Relations preventive mediation and information sessions
• Labour Standards investigations, workplace visits and presentations
• Immigration and Multiculturalism
  • One-on-one information sessions and supports for international students, graduates, and employers
  • Public and employer information sessions
  • New multiculturalism and settlement and integration funding applications
  • International recruitment initiatives and services
• Apprenticeship counter services and outreach, applications, administration of Block and Red Seal Exams, in class Block Training, accreditation reviews, and issuance and reissuance of Red Seal Certificates
• Workforce Development Secretariat job bank support services, provision of labour market information supports, and assistance to individuals seeking labour mobility supports

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation

• Regular move-ins and transfers in social housing
• Regular maintenance in social housing units

Tourism, Culture Arts and Recreation

• Marble Mountain is closed
• Arts and Culture Centres are closed
• Provincial Historic Sites are closed
• T’Railway patrols are suspended
• Visitor Information Centres are closed
• The Rooms is closed
• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador swimming pools and sport/recreation training facilities, including the NL Sport Centre, are closed

Please continue to follow public health advice; stay home unless absolutely necessary, wear a mask if you must go out, practice proper hand sanitization and maintain physical distancing.

The Provincial Government continues to monitor and where necessary implement protocols required to contain the virus. For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

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Media contact
Luke Joyce
Executive Council
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca