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The Record to Date released

Premier Brian Tobin announced today the release of The Record To Date - the government's progress report on the commitments it made in its 1996 election platform.

"We do not take these commitments lightly," said the Premier. "We told the people of this province that we had a clear course of action, and we are delivering."

The platform is now government policy. The Record to Date gives details of the initiatives government has taken in fulfilling each of the 77 commitments. Some of these commitments are specific, while others set goals the government must strive to meet.

Chief among these is government's commitment to maximize the benefits from our major resource projects, by ensuring that the Voisey's Bay smelter/refinery complex and the offshore petroleum transshipment facility were built in this province. Government further committed to move beyond a single petroleum project to a series of projects, notably Terra Nova and Whiterose, that will create a full-fledged industry in the province. A clear indication of this is Petro Canada and Norsk Hydro's recent decision to open their east coast operational offices in St. John's, and Husky Oil's intention to open offices here this summer.

Government pledged to make aboriginal land claims a top priority, and has since signed a framework agreement with the Innu Nation, with an Agreement-in-Principle with the Labrador Inuit Association expected very shortly. Government committed itself to maintaining a sound fiscal position, which last year meant there was no need for a mid-year correction in the budget. Specific commitments were made in the areas of fishery and aquaculture, forestry, tourism, advanced technologies, trade, education reform, health care, and social services.

"Where we are still working to meet our objectives, we say so," said the Premier. "Where we have made considerable progress towards achieving a goal, we say so. But we are working on all of our commitments."

"We've made more progress in our first year than we had expected, but there are a great many challenges that lie ahead," added the Premier. "The Record to Date is an opportunity to let the people of the province know exactly what we are doing to meet their expectations."

The Record to Date will be distributed throughout the province, and updated again during the course of the mandate.

Contact: Cathy Dornan, Director of Communications, Premier's Office (709) 729-3960.