NLIS 10
December 4, 2000
(Executive Council)

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to provide this House with the first in a series of updates regarding the implementation of government�s regionalization initiative which was announced on July 27.

What I want to make quite clear is that government remains committed to this policy initiative. Some of these organizations are being relocated to put the service closer to the people they serve. There are also organizations which can, through the use of modern communication technology, effectively operate from any location in the province and by doing this we can distribute the economic benefits of government. The need to centralize for decision-making and communication has been diminished in the new age of technology.

Added to those factors is the reality that the economy of the Avalon region is growing at a significant pace.

The divisions are being moved to regional centres and these communities and the surrounding areas will benefit. The communities have embraced this policy decision and are eagerly anticipating the full implementation of regionalization.

Government continues to work with our employees who are impacted by this policy. Yes, we are firm on our commitment to relocate 275 positions. However, we are equally firm in our desire to treat our employees in a fair and reasonable manner. As a result of our efforts, today the number of employees whose circumstances remain unresolved has declined to 193.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this House that these employees are now being given priority consideration for approximately 160 job competitions within the public service. We expect that number to increase as the process continues and as additional vacancies come forward, they will continue to receive priority. We are working now to match employees who are unable to relocate into as many of those positions as possible.

Mr. Speaker, this government had previously announced an enhanced benefits and support package for our employees. That included increased supports for employees who relocated such as a Home Equity Assistance Program, house hunting trip for the entire family, a return trip to close out any personal business, and $1,000 to cover miscellaneous expenses. There were also options for employees who were unable to relocate including redeployment, voluntary departure, voluntary relocation, and career counselling services.

I am announcing today an additional enhanced employee benefit related to regionalization. Government is prepared to provide annual salary assistance up to a maximum of $5,000 to employees who have an opportunity to move into a lower-paying position in the public service.

We have also broadened the requirements for the voluntary departure program to attract more interest and thereby create more opportunities.

These extra initiatives are in direct response to concerns being expressed by employees and it will see more employees who are unable to relocate find another suitable position within government.

Mr. Speaker, through this regionalization policy, we have been provided with a unique and exciting opportunity in Corner Brook.

And I am pleased to advise this House that government will be making an investment into the Corner Brook Campus of the College of the North Atlantic to provide for the necessary laboratory infrastructure.

The college�s Corner Brook campus is establishing itself as a centre of excellence for natural resources. With the Department of Forestry and Agrifoods having a presence at this campus, we will be able to build relationships with the faculty and students and share expertise. It will create a critical mass in the natural resources sector and enhance the college�s centre of excellence.

It will also provide us with the opportunity to provide the employees of our wildlife branch with state-of-the-art lab facilities, moving them out of a building in Pleasantville that can only be described as obsolete.

I would also like to inform this House today that after a comprehensive review, it has been decided that the Animal Health Lab and its five employees will remain in St. John�s. Since the lab deals with diseased animals, it raised environmental concerns. It is appropriate to keep the lab in close proximity to the post-mortem building and its incinerator and we have adjusted that part of our plan.

Mr. Speaker, this policy has not been without its critics. But those critics have focused their criticisms on the cost of implementing this policy.

Even some of our critics, including NAPE President Tom Hanlon, recognize the merits of this policy initiative. In fact, Mr. Hanlon in a letter to me on November 20, 2000, proposes a mechanism for implementing this policy.

His alternative proposal, however, is just not feasible.

We are saying the costs will be significantly lower than what has been put forward by NAPE. The union has been inflating their estimates to discredit this policy.

Our estimates continue to be refined as the process unfolds and final figures will be not be known until employees have made their decisions and tenders for capital improvements have been awarded. We are also involved in commercial negotiations at this time.

But I am making a commitment here today. Once the final figure is know, I will provide this House with a full accounting of the implementation costs associated with this initiative.

Mr. Speaker, government firmly believes this is a sound policy decision. The benefit of moving government services to areas outside of St. John�s cannot be over-stated.

We will be putting government jobs into these areas. These employees will need homes, food, clothing � the necessities of life. The economy of those areas will see improvement as there will be spinoffs. These people will contribute to and enjoy the social and cultural characteristics of these communities.

How can anyone say that there will not be a positive impact on the local economies by putting 63 jobs into Grand Falls-Windsor or 100 jobs in Corner Brook or creating centres of excellence across the province? It will be beneficial in the same manner as the creation of 1,000 jobs in St. John�s by Convergys call centre.

It will and that�s why we are doing this, and at the same time we continue to lessen the impact on our employees.

Thank You.

2000 12 04 2:50 p.m.