Municipal Affairs
February 23, 2011
Fire Protection Equipment Funding Announced for
Northern Newfoundland and Labrador
Four fire departments on the Northern Peninsula and in Labrador will benefit from over $31,700 in Provincial Government funding. The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services, today announced funding for Conche, L’Anse au Loup, Nain, and Pigeon Cove-St. Barbe fire departments.
“Municipal fire departments across our province provide vital life safety service for residents,” said Minister O’Brien. “Our government is delighted to provide assistance to the fire service in ensuring effective and efficient emergency response throughout our communities.”
The funding will provide for personal protective equipment, as outlined below:
| Department | Equipment | Provincial Share | Project Total |
| Conche | Bunker clothing | $6,970 | $8,110 |
| L’Anse au Loup | Bunker clothing, Nomex hoods | $3,580 | $4,170 |
| Nain | Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), air cylinders | $12,390 | $14,410 |
| Pigeon Cove-St. Barbe | SCBA, air cylinders | $8,830 | $10,270 |
“All communities depend on the important work of firefighters and other emergency response personnel, but for isolated and remote communities, where responding to an emergency can be especially challenging, the burden of responsibility is often more heavily felt,” said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and MHA for Torngat Mountains. “Funding to assist in the emergency response efforts of these brave men and women - and to keep them as safe as possible - is always welcome and appreciated.”
“Our firefighters provide a vital service to the people of these communities and to our province in general,” noted Wallace Young, MHA for St. Barbe. “The new self-contained breathing equipment and air cylinders will assist these volunteers in the tremendous work they do for us.”
Budget 2010: The Right Investments – For Our Children and Our Future doubled the investment in firefighting equipment from $500,000 to $1 million, while also increasing expenditures on firefighting vehicles to a total of $2.5 million. Funding for these departments is shared between the Provincial Government and the respective communities under the cost-shared ratios established through the Municipal Capital Works Program.
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Media contacts:
| Cheryl Gullage Public Relations Specialist Fire and Emergency Services – Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-0857, 631-9962 cherylgullage@gov.nl.ca |
Donna Ivey Communications Manager Government Members’ Office 709-729-0898, 697-1424 donnaivey@gov.nl.ca |
| Donna Stokes Executive Assistant to the Honourable Patty Pottle MHA for Torngat Mountains 709-729-2243 dstokes@gov.nl.ca |
2011 02 23 11:30 a.m.