June 12, 1998
(Development and Rural Renewal)

The following statement was issued today by the Beaton Tulk, Chairman, Cabinet Committee on Rural Revitalization:

Today I am announcing that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is undertaking a comprehensive review of policies and issues related to the use of our outdoor resources, such as fish, wildlife and the environment.

In recent months, a great deal of interest has been expressed by members of the government caucus and by a significant array of interest groups, outdoor stakeholders, and concerned citizens about the future of outdoor policies in Newfoundland and Labrador.

A view has developed in some quarters that government has an agenda to restrict access to the outdoors. This is not true.

The outdoors remains a public resource to which all citizens are entitled to access, keeping in mind that the outdoors has to be protected for the use of our children and future generations.

This is government policy, and this will not change.

This government believes, first and foremost, that our outdoor resources exist for the use and enjoyment of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

What is clear, however, is that there are many interest groups and many issues pertaining to outdoor use. These are issues such as the use of ATVs for retrieval of game, access to rivers, parks privatization, river specific licences, concerns about construction of outfitters lodges, and salmon licences and quotas.

There is also the issue of watershed management. A number of watershed management and model river groups are active in the province. They have undertaken community-based pilot projects to promote sound management and conservation of our watershed resources. Concern has been expressed about the direction in which these groups may be headed.

Arising out of this discussion, certain stakeholders have attributed to government a motive that does not exist - that of seeking to privatize the outdoors.

Let me state again, we are not. The conservation and use of outdoor resources is a concern for government. But privatization of the outdoors is NOT government policy.

Given the increasing prevalence of this view, and the genuine nature of public concern, we, as a government, must respond and bring a focus to these issues. We believe it is time for us to discuss these concerns directly with the people and concerned groups of the province.

Today, I am announcing the establishment of a committee of ministers to include Forest Resources and Agrifoods Minister Kevin Aylward, Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Sandra Kelly, and Government Services and Lands Minister Ernest McLean to review outdoors policy. In my capacity as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Rural Revitalization, I will chair this committee.

The committee will engage in active consultation with the public and key stakeholder groups and work with them to address the issues that have been raised.

We intend to do this in a timely fashion. The consultation process will be carried out from August 1 to September 30, and will begin with the distribution of a discussion paper to key stakeholders and to any person wishing to present their views to the committee. This cabinet committee will hold meetings in many communities, including Stephenville, Corner Brook, Deer Lake, Port Saunders, Gander, Clarenville and St. John's to seek their views. This list is not exhaustive, and will be expanded if the need arises.

We intend to undertake broad and serious consultations. Our goal is to build a consensus on how we can properly preserve access to our outdoors for the people of this province, protect and conserve our resources and, where appropriate, allow other legislated uses that support both recreational activities and economic development.

Government has an obligation to - and we will - protect these resources through sound conservation and sustainable development practices, now and for future generations.

In recent months, a number of legitimate concerns have been raised, along with some incorrect conclusions. We must look at them all, in consultation with these concerned stakeholders, andcome to an understanding.

This is a pivotal initiative by this administration, and one which we hope will allay current public concern, while protecting and maximizing our access to the rich outdoors of Newfoundland and Labrador.

1998 06 12  5:00 p.m.