November 24, 1999
(Development and Rural Renewal)

Public consultations on jobs and growth continue tonight with 10 presentations

Ten presentations are scheduled to be heard by the Cabinet Committee on Jobs and Growth in St. John's tonight as the committee continues its public consultations on an economic renewal strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador.

The scheduled presenters are Martin Lockyer, president, St, John's Board of Trade; George Tweed, Newfoundland Heritage Tannery and Trading Post; Fred Andrews, president, Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association; Mike Murray, president, Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador; Elaine Murray, Festival of Flags; Dave Rudofsky, The Atlantic Commercial Gateway; Glen Fitzpatrick, managing director, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Cooperatives; Maureen Bethel, executive director, Women Interested in Successful Employment; Moyra Buchan, Community Alliance for Better Solutions; and George Murphy, Consumers Group for Fair Gas Prices.

Tonight's forum, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Delta Hotel, is the second of four meetings to be held in St. John's. The first, held November 23, was the only one originally scheduled for St. John's, but additional meetings had to be scheduled to accommodate individuals and groups who wish to make presentations. Two other meetings will be held in St. John's December 2 and 9, both at Holiday Inn.

Two meetings at other locations have also been added to the original schedule. One will be held in Stephenville on November 27, and one in Mount Pearl on December 8.

Beaton Tulk, chair of the Cabinet Committee and Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, says that upwards of 1,300 people have attended the forums to date, and some 180 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 Deember 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, Communications Director, (709) 729-4570.

SCHEDULE OF CONSULTATIONS:

1999 11 24                                     11:45 a.m.