Cathy Bennett

Thinking about the people of Bay de Verde and area as they wake this morning, the day after..."Hope is possible because there is always a tomorrow" Thanks to the many firefighters, town officials, community members and volunteers who worked so hard yesterday to help their neighbours.

Getting lots of positive feedback on this interview with CBC's The Current. http://www.cbc.ca/radio/popup/audio/listen.html

Congratulations to Dina Shehata recipient of the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship! More can be seen on the attached link to the News Release. http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2016/edu/0223n02.aspx

Nominations Open for Seniors of Distinction Awards Individuals, groups and organizations are encouraged to submit nominations for the 2016 Seniors of Distinction Awards, a program which recognizes and celebrates the contributions, achievements and diversity of seniors throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The deadline for submission is April 4, 2016. For more information and to download an application, visit: www.swsd.gov.nl.ca/seniors/sda.

Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador (CCNL) has launched a brand new program! CCNL has been providing outstanding employment and educational programming in the areas of environmental and cultural heritage for 24 years. The Environmental and Cultural Hiring Opportunity (ECHO) Program is designed to build strong connections between youth and local organizations, communities, and municipalities by providing students (ages 15-30) with training and employment opportunities through paid work placements with community-based organizations. All the details for the ECHO Program can be found in the attached documents. The deadline for the ECHO Program is February 19, 2016.

Today is Election Day - Please make time today to Vote! Polling locations are open from 8am to 8pm. If you need any assistance today, please call our Campaign headquarters at 754-0532 - we'd be happy to help. (special thanks to our Volunteers today!)

A huge shout out to the 1000's of people across the Province volunteering with our #TeamDwight #StrongerTomorrow campaign across all 40 districts and in with the Provincial Campaign. Your energy and enthusiasm is inspiring, especially for those of us who are candidates. Thank you for all your hard work, time and talent. You are making a real difference in this Election Campaign. Thank You!

Remembering those who sacrificed for our freedom. Let us remember their children & spouses, their families and communities. We must always support and honor them for their bravery and service to our Country and others. It was an honour to lay a wreath on behalf of Dwight Ball & the Official Opposition today at the National War Memorial in St. John's accompanied by Comrade Charles Rees, CD, Korean War Veteran. #WewillRememberThem

Looking forward to representing Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador at the Seniors Debate sponsored by the NL Coalition of Pensioners, Retirees and Seniors Associations at Memorial University School of Medicine at 7pm.

Learn more about our Platform be checking out www.nlliberals.ca for details on our first Platform plank focused on restoring openness, accountability and transparency to Government. #strongertomorrow

Day before the writ 'drops' - Windsor Lake Team very busy working hard to earn the confidence of the people in the district. #strongertomorrow

Our team squeezed in a busy day before we headed home for Halloween trick or treatin'. Be safe out there tonight everyone and watch out for the kids on the roads. Thanks Team for all of today's hard work ..

Another busy weekend of prepping for November 30th. HQ is ready, signs ready, printing almost done ...and our volunteer list is growing for a wide variety of tasks. I think volunteers are the most important part of a campaign. They are the engine that gives the campaign momentum. Thank you to the many, many people who have offered and continue to offer to help. Want to join us? Please contact us at [email protected]

Congratulations to all seven Liberal MPs - Judy Foote, Yvonne Jones, Gudie Hutchings, Scott Simms, Ken MacDonald, Seamus O'Reagan & Nick Whalen who were given the privilege to serve the people of NL in the federal Parliament in Ottawa. People of Canada have clearly mandated Real Change. I look forward to earning the privilege to serve the people of Windsor Lake in the Provincial Election November 30th and to working with our federal government & our seven NL MPs to make that real change happen.

Impressive understanding of the issues tonight during the CARE Debate at MUN by Liberal Leader Dwight Ball. Important issues discussed including economic diversification, health care, education, challenges for seniors, early education, work force development, gender equity & women in leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunities for youth. Well done Dwight !

Last fall I was asked by several people to get involved and ask questions about a Report Gov't had commissioned almost 4 years and then refused to release citing 'safety risks to vulnerable people’. Wanting to understand the situation, I went about speaking personally with the stakeholders involved. I then began asking questions in the House of Assembly about the Report. After questioning the Premier during one question period he would later chastised me 'as a women' for aski...ng the questions. Supported by our team of researchers, we (the Official Opposition) made numerous ATIP requests and then ultimately asked the Privacy Commissioner to rule on whether the report should remain buried. The Privacy Commissioner ruled that majority of the report was to be released and directed the Women’s Policy office to do so by today, Friday October 9th. Earlier in the week, on Tuesday I watched the Premier speak again publically about the report and the need for the report to remain confidential. It was after this press conference that I informed the media of the Privacy Commissioners ruling. And yesterday Gov’t finally reversed their decision and released the report. They now maintain that this report is ‘stale dated’ and a new report needs to be completed to, as the Premier said on Tuesday, get ‘everyone on the right & best page’. As a member of the House of Assembly, I’m pleased the report is released. As an advocate, as a woman and as a mom, I’m deeply troubled that the actions identified in the report that could help and support people were delayed by 4 years because Gov’t refused to begin the dialogue. We may not all want to know the details and we may not want to believe the details, but the people, mostly women, who shared their lived experiences trusted the system trusted Gov’t that their words and sharing would lead to action. We must turn our collective attention now to the ‘work’ the report identified work that needs to happen, evolve and be acted on.

Lots of energy tonight at Trudeau 2015 rally!

Remembering the 'new neighbours' we hosted 14 years ago and grief we felt for all those lost ... remembering 9/11.

Weather was perfect for door to door tonight - thanks to a great team for spending the evening with me! #WinLake If you would like to join our Windsor Lake Team email me at [email protected] Together we can make change happen.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Labour Day - celebrating the important contribution that hard working people make in our Province. Also, today is the unofficial last day of summer for many young people who are headed back to school later this week. Have a safe and successful school year! And thank you to the teachers, school administrators who are ready to make this year the best ever for each and every student.

One of my favorite summer evenings - Br. McSheffrey Community Garden dinner - perfect weather, wonderful turkey dinner, garden tour, fabulous desserts and best of all, great friends to share the evening with....

Great few days attending meetings in Ottawa.

Lots of fun at this years CCA Youth Achieve Walk / Run this morning - Congratulations to the organizers and volunteers who work so hard to pull everything together. Kids literacy matters!! Such an important cause - happy to attend with Dale Kirby.

Awesome day at Quidi Vidi today for the 197th Royal St. John's Regatta. Congratulations to all the rowers, coxswains, volunteer, concessioners, charities & service groups. Great time was had by all - and thanks to our Liberal volunteers who helped with our "Meet & Greet" tent.

Today Leader Dwight Ball announced that a Liberal Gov’t will establish Healthy Living Assessments for all seniors aged 70 years and older living in Newfoundland and Labrador at no cost to them. These Healthy Living Assessments will help keep seniors healthier through preventative measures and education, allowing them to stay in their homes longer, and reduce costs on the healthcare system. Healthy Living Assessments will be voluntary, in-home, annual assessments conducted by ...qualified healthcare professionals. Similar assessments in Denmark, Australia and the Netherlands have shown significant benefits both to the health and well-being of their aging populations but also on healthcare costs, with the reduced need for long-term care and hospital care, and less visits to the emergency room by seniors. New Brunswick has also recently launched a seniors’ consultation program to promote healthy aging. The program will cost $6 million per year to deliver, bringing short- and long-term benefits to the province. If just 160 falls per year are prevented, the cost of delivering the program will be covered. There is compelling support for the investment in this kind of program for Newfoundland and Labrador, said Liberal Leader Dwight Ball. The benefits of the Healthy Living Assessments will extend across a number of different areas, but Falls are the number one reason for visits to the emergency room by seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador, with 1,200 being hospitalized for an average of 22 days after having a fall, costing the province’s healthcare system $45 million dollars for falls alone each year. The Healthy Living Assessment program will begin in early 2016 with an analysis of priority areas with the most susceptible populations, assessment team development, training and program planning in preparation for a late 2016 roll-out. A new Liberal government will also pass legislation to create the Office of the Seniors Advocate. The Seniors Advocate would be independent of government and would not report to the Minister but instead to the House of Assembly, similar to the Child and Youth Advocate. With a cost of $500,000 per year, the office is critical to seniors and ensuring there is a strong, independent voice to identify, develop, implement and evaluate the services and programs they require.

26/40 Candidates in place! Dwight Ball continues on the #RoadAheadNL tour. Visit roadaheadnl.ca for more information about the tour and weekly updates

The Telegram (James McLeod) reported this week that Gov't paid an IT consulting service contract that last over a decade. Here was my response to the story, as Official Opposition member responsible for Finance.

Enjoy the weekend festivities - hopefully the weather cooperates for the St. John's Pride Parade on Sunday - drop down and join the large NL Liberal contingent who will be joining the Parade this year. Parade starts at 2pm Sunday in front of City Hall.

So grateful for the fantastic volunteers who are supporting our campaign in Windsor Lake (formerly Virgina Waters). If you are interested in helping with our campaign send us a message. Our team is growing and you could be one of them!

Happy Pride Week!

Joining Leader Dwight Ball today at 11am for an important healthcare policy announcement. #RoadAheadNL

Watch for the #RoadAheadNL Tour with Liberal Leader Dwight Ball. It's about authentic engagement with people in our communities. This is a critical juncture for NL. Ppl worried about healthcare, education & economy. This summer we’re advancing that dialogue, zeroing in on the issues and giving people the opportunity to be a part of the solutions. With more than 1,460 km traveled and the opportunity to engage with hundreds of people in the first week alone, the response to the... Road Ahead Tour has been tremendous. The Road Ahead means getting it right for Newfoundland and Labrador with leadership that is solid, grounded and real. This week, Dwight will continue to talk about health specifically mental health. We know that 1 in 5 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are suffering from mental health issues. We want to help eliminate the stigma around those seeking help. Liberals will deliver a provincial mental health strategy to address the growing need for appropriate resources, services and support. And please visit our tour website at www.RoadAheadNL.ca for more information on the tour schedule, pictures of people and places, and other information.

Leader Dwight Ball announces the start of the Road Ahead Tour. During the 10-week provincial summer tour, we will engage with the people of the province about getting it right for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Lest we forget - may we always remember their sacrifice and honour it with a legacy that reflects their bravery.

Honoured to be the Liberal Candidate in the District of Windsor Lake (known currently as Virginia Waters) in the upcoming Provincial General Election on November 30th. Welcome several new neighbourhoods to the district including Clovelly Trails subdivision. Building and adding to our campaign team now and I'm asking for your help. Please message me if you would like to help us #WinLake .

To all the caregivers, taxi drivers, laundry do-ers, first-aid providers, coaches, mentors, leaders, grocery buyers, example setters, listeners, story book readers, lecturers, diaper changes, aisle walkers, joke tellers, snow shovelers, lawn mowers, supper cookers, house cleaners, hard workers, hug givers... Today is a time to remember & celebrate those who, yesterday helped shape us, today support us & a reminder of our role in shaping tomorrow. Happy Father's Day!

Late night sitting in the House of Assembly last night - had the chance to speak to Govt's plan to increase HST 2% in January and to add 8% back on power bills this July 1st - 13 days away. I spoke about the challenges this tax increase will create for families and individuals who are making ends meet on very tight household budgets.

Stats Canada Labour Force Survey shows the Province is in it's 19th consecutive month of year over year job losses. Over 2300 fewer people are working this May then last May. Govt has tried to blame this on falling oil prices, however the trend started in November 2013. Today I asked the Premier where the Workforce Development Action Plan that he said was coming in weeks ...three months ago! And I asked why isn't the Govt treating the population and job number statistics with the seriousness they deserve. Diversifying our economy and focusing on job creation is a critical component of creating a sustainable population. We must have people in our Province and they must have jobs.

SWASP 2015 Community Service Component The Community Service Component of the Student Work and Service Program (SWASP) is a program that enables students to work in their home community during the summer, develop transferable skills, explore career interests and help nonprofits carry out their programs. Deadline to apply is June 15, 2015. http://communitysector.nl.ca/swasp

Hope you can join us tomorrow night as our Virginia Waters team canvasses neighbourhoods in the district.

This week I had the opportunity to recognize Ms. Rosemary Marshall, a pioneer of youth sports in Newfoundland and Labrador. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdGPGT2HtPU

What a year it's been! Hard to believe that the Virginia Waters By Election was over a year ago! We've worked so hard since then and as we get ready for the General Election it's time to celebrate and charge our engines for what will be a busy summer of campaigning. I'm personally inviting you, your family and any new volunteers you would like to bring out to the event!! Please join usit won't be the same without you! This is family friendly, so please bring your kids or even your neighbours and let’s celebrate a great year as we kick start our campaign efforts for winning the General Election. RSVP [email protected] or call 727-6662.

Congratulations to the Cerebral Palsy Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Board, Volunteers and Dr. Ahktar for an impressive and compassionate fundraiser last night - "Night of Traditions". Food was amazing, entertainment was 1st. class and poem reading by a mom was a special moment not soon forgotten. Well done everyone.

Today I was proud to stand in the House of Assembly to recognize the wonderful accomplishments of Jocelyn Greene on receiving the Order of Canada. I had intended to make the statement last Wednesday, but was told my statement did not meet the Standing Orders of the House of Assembly. The full statement is posted below, but in the House today I did not read paragraph 4 & 5. Ms. Greene is a very deserving award recipient and I'm so pleased to be one of the many people who are c...ongratulating and recognizing her innovation and accomplishments. "Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize Jocelyn Greene, former Executive Director of Stella Burry Community Services. Ms. Greene was recently awarded the Order of Canada for her work in transforming Emmanuel House residential treatment program into Stella's Circle, one of the largest social enterprises in the Province. Stella’s Circle helps over 800 people annually, over come challenges of literacy, issues of physical and mental health as well as incarceration. As an award winning social worker and community activist, Ms. Greene’s passion to fight for social justice and poverty reduction has lead the way for social enterprises innovation in NL - innovation that is recognized throughout Canada for her work at Stella’s Circle. As Ms. Greene has said, Single solutions won’t combat poverty and social injustice. And the work of Stella’s Circle’s is focused on a multi-faceted approach. Ms. Greene’s leadership and vision has inspired so many to join the work of ensuring that every person has a fair chance. Mr. Speaker, I ask all Honorable Members to join me in recognizing Ms. Greene, her work, and her inspiration and even more importantly her results which have helped hundreds of women and men to overcome challenges in their lives." Please join me in congratulating Ms. Greene and thank her for our contribution to our community.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Foster Families Association Annual Symposium, Foster wellbeing June 5-7, 2015 Ramada Hotel, St. John’s RSVP by May 28th at [email protected]... http://www.nlffa.ca/ See more

NLOWE 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Call for nominations is now open until May 22nd. Do you know a savvy businesswomen? Nominate her for an award today. More information can be found at www.nlowe.org/awards

Senior of the Year Nomination Deadline Extended Please note the Senior of the Year Nomination deadline date has been extended from Thursday, May 14 to Thursday, May 21, 2015. Application forms can be found by clicking here: http://www.stjohns.ca/forms/senior-year-nomination-form

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, caregivers and guardians who have devoted themselves to raising generations that are destined to accomplish even greater things then those who have followed before. To all the people who crave to be a mom and to those that live with the loss of a child, may you find peace today knowing that motherhood is not owned singularly by the experience only, but rather by love for today and for the possible. And as we remember our ow...n "Mother", whether they are with us or not, may we feel a joy in celebrating the journey that is motherhood. My favourite line from the kids bedtime stories when they were little is "I love you forever, I like you for always. As long as I'm living my baby you'll be."....so true! Happy Mother's Day!

Let's Connect - Seniors' Forum May 13, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, St. Mark's Church. With MHA Cathy Bennett and MHA Rex Hiller, responsible for Seniors, Wellness & Social Development. A forum to discuss issues and challenges facing seniors.