Cabinet Committee visits Northeast Avalon Region of Strategic Social Plan

The Social Policy Committee of Cabinet visits the Northeast Avalon Region of the Strategic Social Plan for the fifth in a series of working visits to the six SSP regions across the province.

The meetings give cabinet ministers the chance to hear from steering committees about the work they do to implement the Strategic Social Plan in their regions.

"Our meetings have been informative and very productive," said Education Minister Judy Foote, chair of the Social Policy Committee. "The commitment to this process by all stakeholders is evident in every region we visit, and the visits serve as a forum for social policy ministers to reaffirm their support for the SSP."

Site visits are an important part of these working visits, and give ministers the chance to see initiatives that are supported by the SSP, and are good community-based examples of the plan�s focus on partnerships, early intervention and prevention, and increasing community involvement.

The cabinet committee will visit the Virginia Park Community Centre to see first hand the results of community capacity building and St. Teresa�s Elementary School-�cole Ste-Th�r�se to learn more about a successful literacy program for young readers.

"We look forward to meeting with the Social Policy Committee and discussing our approach to implementing the SSP in this area," said Joan Dawe, chair of the Northeast Avalon Region Steering Committee. "We are focusing on early childhood development as our priority for this year, and we look forward to speaking with ministers about our work."

The Northeast Avalon region includes St. John�s and surrounding areas, from Pouch Cove to Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove and west as far as Marysvale. The steering committee is one of the newest of the six regional committees and works to implement the SSP through planning, consulting and collaborating across governments, sectors and with community partners. The SSP was launched in 1998 as a way to improve long-term opportunities for people and better coordinate services.

"These visits give social policy ministers the chance to see the SSP in action," said Gerald Smith, lead minister for the Strategic Social Plan and Minister of Human Resources and Employment. "And they also demonstrate creative ways to address social issues."

Media Opportunities:

A media opportunity is available Wednesday, March 6 in the "Pre-function area" of the Fairmont Hotel at 12:45 p.m., after ministers meet with the steering committee.

Ministers are available to media from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 6 at Virginia Park Community Centre.

Media contact: Marcia Porter, Communications, (709) 729-0175.

2002 03 01                         12:20 p.m.