July 26, 1996
(Development and Rural Renewal)


Minister announces 18 of 19 Regional Economic Development Boards established

Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, Judy Foote, today announced that regional economic development boards have been established in 18 of the original 19 economic zones across Newfoundland and Labrador. The minister also announced that a decision has been made to split economic zone 18, bringing the total number of economic zones to 20. The split of zone 18 comes after extensive consultations with the zone 18 working committee who indicated that the economies of the two sides of the initial zone were sufficiently different to warrant the establishment of two separate zones.

"I am pleased with the progress the zones are making," said Ms. Foote. "Provisional board members have stepped down and the permanent boards are now in place. I intend to travel to every zone to sign performance contracts establishing the permanent boards, to thank the members of the provisional boards and welcome the new members of the permanent boards. Volunteers have been the driving force in this process and it is to their credit that 18 boards are now in place."

Since the beginning of May, accompanied by Lawrence MacAulay, Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (Veteran's Affairs), or the federal Member of Parliament for the region, the minister has attended ceremonies recognizing the work of the provisional and permanent board members in eight zones: the Hyron Regional Economic Development Corporation in zone 2; the Central Labrador Economic Development Corporation in zone 3; the Southeastern Aurora Development Corporation in zone 4; the Labrador Straits Development Corporation in zone 5; the Baccalieu Board of Economic Development Corporation in zone 17; the Discovery Regional Development Board in zone 15; the South Western Marine & Mountain Zone Corporation in zone 10; and the Long Range Economic Development Board in zone 9. Dates are being worked on for the ceremonies in each of the remaining zones with the signing taking place in Zone 16, the Schooner Regional Development Corporation, on July 26, and Zone 13, Coast of Bays Corporation, on August 2.

"This new approach to economic development is gaining momentum all across the province," said the minister. "There is a clear expression of commitment by the volunteers involved in the zonal process, who are working to build a future for their community, their region and their province. Each regional economic development board is focused on bringing together and building on the strengths of their region. The key to this new approach to economic development is partnership and cooperation, and together we are working to make our vision a reality."

The role of the provisional boards was to determine the structure of the Regional Economic Development Board (REDB) for their region and to negotiate a Phase 1 Performance Contract with the Canada/Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification COOPERATION Agreement (SRDA) Management Committee. Once the regional economic development board is in place, they are given one year to develop a strategic economic plan for the zone and then negotiate Phase 2 of the Performance Contract with the SRDA Management Committee. Phase 2 gives the REDB a five year contract to implement the strategic economic plan for the zone, with annual assessments reviewing the progress of the boards and governments in fulfilling their respective commitments.

In February of 1995 the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced a new approach to regional economic development, as recommended by the Task Force on Community Economic Development. This involved the creation of new community-based volunteer boards to support economic development planning and coordination within specific zones of the province. Regional economic development boards consist of representatives from municipalities, community development groups, the business, labour, and education sectors, and special interest groups unique to the region. The boards perform a number of leadership functions including the coordination of all community economic development activities within their respective regions.

Contact: Clifford Grinling, Public Relations, (709) 729-4570.

1996 07 26 3:50 p.m.
 

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