November 19, 1999
(Development and Rural Renewal)

Jobs and Growth Committee adds public forums in Stephenville, St. John's

Development and Rural Renewal Minister Beaton Tulk, chair of the Cabinet Committee on Jobs and Growth, announced today that additional public consultations on an economic renewal strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador will be held in Stephenville and St. John's.

"There has been great public interest in this process and interest continues to grow," said Minister Tulk. "To accommodate individuals and groups who wish to make presentations to the committee, we have agreed to extend our schedule to include a meeting in Stephenville. As well, the interest in St. John's has been so tremendous that we have added four public forums in addition to the consultation meeting originally scheduled for November 23."

The meeting in Stephenville will be held on November 27 at 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn.

The Jobs and Growth consultations continue next week with meetings in Clarenville on Monday, November 22 at 7 p.m. at the St. Jude Hotel and in St. John's on Tuesday, November 23 and Wednesday, November 24 at 7 p.m. at the Delta Hotel. Additional meetings will be held in St. John's on December 2, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn.

Public consultation forums have already taken place in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor, Harbour Breton, Marystown, Corner Brook, St. Anthony, Port aux Basques, Whitbourne, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador City and New-Wes-Valley. More than 1,200 people have attended the forums to date, and some 155 presentations have been made.

Interested groups and individuals may attend these public meetings and/or forward written submissions to Minister Tulk, c/o Ministerial Committee on Jobs and Growth, 2nd Floor, Confederation Building, West Block, P.O. Box 8700, St. John's, NF, A1B 4J6. Submissions may also be faxed to (709) 729-0614 or e-mail: econsult@mail.gov.nf.ca. Deadline for written submissions is December 15, 1999.

Anyone planning on making a presentation to the committee at a public meeting is invited to pre-register by calling toll-free 1-877-729-6440 or, in the St. John's area, 729-6440.

Media contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Director of Communications, (709) 729-4570.

SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING CONSULTATIONS:

All meetings begin at 7 p.m.

*Stephenville meeting begins at 10 a.m.

1999 11 18                                             12:25 p.m.