ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The best way to tell an election call is coming in Newfoundland and Labrador — or anywhere, really — is to keep an eye on government news releases.
By the end of Thursday afternoon, government departments had issued 17 news releases. Before the writ was dropped Friday, they had almost matched that with 16 more releases. It’s rare for there to be any more than half a dozen per day.
Included among them was money for things that didn’t seem to be on the table before, like a PET scanner for the new Corner Brook hospital. That money will be held in trust, and it’s still not clear when it will be used.
The previously doomed Come By Chance refinery has also been given a reprieve, as the province ponied up $16.6 million to keep some staff employed and the facility humming on warm idle while a new owner is sought.
In addition to the PET scanner, many of the announcements dealt with health matters.
Over the past two days, the province has:
• Expanded access to Eastern Health’s insulin pump program. Full coverage is now available to children and youth up to 18 years old as well as individuals already in the program who are between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. Older applicants will be assessed for access based on an income test.
• Lowered the deductible on the medical transportation assistance program (MTAP) and the medical transportation assistance program for income-support clients. The private vehicle deductible will be reduced from 1,500 kilometres to 500 kilometres for MTAP, and a $25 per night private accommodations rate will be introduced for both programs. MTAP clients who avail of private accommodations will also be eligible for a $29 per day meal allowance. The changes take effect on April 1.
Agreements reached
A few labour deals were also struck since Wednesday.
As well as reaching a tentative agreement with the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association, the province inked one with the Association of Allied Health Professionals (AAHP).
The latter deal extends the current agreement to June 30, 2022. The teachers' agreement extends to August 2022.
Not left out were private and community road ambulance operators. Their service agreement has been extended to March 31, 2022, and includes a four per cent wage increase per full-time employee over two years. The agreement includes additional support to establish community paramedicine programming through planning, hiring contract resources and undertaking pilot projects.
Still in the works, however, is a deal with doctors.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association confirmed Friday its talks are only in the initial stages.
Its last contract expired in 2017.
