NLIS 1
May 18, 2001
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
(Environment)

Ministers respond to media reports concerning rebuilding of St. Vincent de Paul food bank

Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and Ralph Wiseman, Minister of Environment, responded today to recent media reports concerning the St. Vincent de Paul food bank at Corpus Christi Church in St. John's in relation to the province's Urban and Rural Planning Act.

"The province is prepared to approve an amendment to the City of St. John's development regulations to allow this particular non-conforming use to continue. The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs has been in contact with City of St. John's officials who have agreed to cooperate in ensuring that the valuable work of the St. Vincent de Paul food bank can continue in the community," assured Minister Langdon.

Minister Wiseman reviewed the issue and concluded, "in this particular case the Department of Environment will not impede the rebuilding of the food bank if the City of St. John's wishes to grant approval of the construction."

The ministers have committed through a letter to Mayor Andy Wells, to work with the city to solve this issue. If the City of St. John's makes the decision to allow the St. Vincent de Paul Society to rebuild the food bank in its previous location at Corpus Christi Church, then there will not be opposition from the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs or the Department of Environment.

Media contact:
Sean Kelly, Communications, Municipal and Provincial Affairs, (709) 729-1983

Diane Keough, Communications, Environment, (709) 729-2575

2001 05 18                                        11:00 a.m.