NLIS 6

September 10, 2001
(Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs)
(Works, Services and Transportation)

North Coast Transportation Committee to begin public consultations

Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ernest McLean, Works, Services and Transportation Minister Percy Barrett and Torngat Mountains MHA Wally Andersen are pleased to announce that public consultations will begin this week to determine the future transportation needs on the north coast of Labrador.

A seven-member committee has been established to make recommendations on how to best address marine services and other transportation modes on the north coast.

"The committee will seek the views of those who depend on marine services and make a final report to government," Minister McLean said. "In May, we announced that the level of ferry service to communities along northern and southern coastal Labrador will remain the same until 2002-2003, with the exception of southern Labrador ports that have access to the Trans-Labrador Highway. We decided to do this in order to further consult with communities as to their future marine service needs."

Government recognizes that the completion of the Trans-Labrador Highway from Red Bay to Cartwright, in 2003, will change the marine service requirements in northern Labrador, said Minister Barrett.

"It�s important that we now assess our ferry services along the coast," he said. "I look forward to receiving the committee�s report and recommendations so that we can move forward with an appropriate plan to meet the transportation needs of the people in northern Labrador."

"The committee members are well-respected along the north coast, and I�m confident that they will present a comprehensive report that will allow government to ensure that communities in my district receive quality marine services in the future," Mr. Andersen said.

The committee, chaired by Jim Lyall of Nain, will hold its initial round of community consultations from September 12-14 in Nain, Davis Inlet and Hopedale.

"I look forward to getting started and meeting with all of the communities on the north coast," Mr. Lyall said. "We have a lot of work to do, but we�re up to the challenge."

The community consultation sessions � which are expected to be completed by the end of September, followed shortly thereafter by the committee�s final report � are being co-ordinated by the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, in conjunction with Inukshuk Development Corporation Inc.

Other committee members include co-chair Ruth Flowers of Makkovik, Patricia Pottle of Hopedale, Glen Sheppard of Postville, Richard Rich of Rigolet and Brent Denniston of Inukshuk Development Corporation Inc. A member from Davis Inlet is expected to be named soon.

Media contact: Bert Pomeroy, Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, (709) 896-3099
                       Lynn Evans, Works, Services and Transportation, (709) 729-3015

2001 09 10                                      3:15 p.m. 


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