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The following is being distributed at the request of the Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada: Commission Chair Victor Young and fellow commissioners, Elizabeth Davis and James Igloliorte, released the Royal Commission's Research and Consultation Plan today.
BACKGROUNDER Starting in late September of this year, the Royal Commission will be conducting extensive public consultations across Newfoundland and Labrador. The locations and dates are: September 30 Harbour Breton Details on venues and times will be released well in advance. The goal of the public consultations is to encourage an open discussion of all issues related to renewing and strengthening our place in Canada. While formal presentations are welcomed and encouraged, it is not our intention to have them read into the record at the public consultations. We want to encourage discussion of all issues by as many people as possible. We want to hear from you The public consultations are just one way to participate in the work of the Royal Commission. Send us formal written submissions, letters and thoughts by mail or email. We encourage the use of artistic expression, such as poems, songs, plays and posters. You choose the way you would like to express yourself and we will listen. Our contact information
More information on the Royal Commission can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/royalcomm.
BACKGROUNDER The Royal Commission�s Research Program has been designed to address key issues outlined in its Terms of Reference. The goals of the Research Program are:
The Royal Commission will file its Final Report by June 30, 2003, a little more than a year after the Commission�s start-up. The Commission, therefore, will not be able to undertake as extensive a research program as one with, say, a five-year mandate. Fortunately, a substantial amount of information and analysis relevant to the Terms of Reference of this Commission already exists. The key task of the research program is to draw together existing knowledge and to fill critical gaps in research. The Commission�s own staff will be able to undertake some of these tasks; others are being undertaken by government bodies in co-operation with the Commission. The bulk of the Research Program, however, will be carried out by independent experts, most of whom will be based at Memorial University and other universities across Canada. In developing the Research Program and identifying potential researchers, the Commission has consulted with a Research Advisory Roundtable, drawn mainly from personnel at Memorial University. Research done specifically for the Commission will be focused on key issues; be policy-oriented; meet professional standards of quality; be inclusive of the social diversity of Newfoundland and Labrador; and be subjected to a review process. Attached is a listing of research projects to be addressed by the Research Program, grouped according to themes. A full list of individual project titles, brief descriptions and contracted authors will be placed on the Commission�s Web site as it is completed in the weeks ahead. The program will be further defined - as time and resources permit - based on input from the public, and as required by Commissioners.
BACKGROUNDER There are three elements to the Royal Commission�s Research and Consultation Strategy: (1) Public Consultations; (2) Research; and (3) Issue-Specific Roundtables. The purpose of the Roundtable phase is to provide a forum for experts, or those possessing a unique perspective, to come together to flesh out new ideas and approaches on a specific issue. Roundtables are meant to be supplemental to information and ideas gathered by the Royal Commission through the public consultation and research phases. Not every issue will require a Roundtable. Certain issues, however, will benefit from such a discussion. Below are a few of the Roundtables the Royal Commission believes will be necessary:
The Royal Commission will seek out broad and balanced membership to serve on each Roundtable. To be effective, however, a Roundtable should not have more than between 10-15 participants. The Royal Commission will take steps to ensure that the public is kept up-to-date regarding the work of Roundtables. Advisories and updates will be placed on the Royal Commission�s web site, and issued to the media.
BACKGROUNDER Victor L. Young Vic Young has extensive experience in the
private and public sectors. He worked in Treasury Board with the Government
of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1968 to 1976, serving as an Officer,
Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister. In his last two years with
Treasury Board, in addition to his position as Deputy Minister, he also
served as special advisor to the Premier. In 1978, Mr. Young moved to become
chair and chief executive officer of the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
Group of Companies, and held this position for six years. In 1984, he became
chair and chief executive officer of Fishery Products International Ltd. In
2001, he became the Executive-in-Residence at Memorial University of
Newfoundland. In addition to serving on a number of boards, Mr. Young holds
a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Memorial University of Newfoundland
and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Western
Ontario. Mr. Young has also received an honourary Doctor of Laws from
Memorial University and is an Officer of the Order of Canada. Sister Elizabeth Davis fulfilled the duties
of chief executive officer with the Health Care Corporation of St. John�s
(HCCSJ) for six years. It was in her role as head of the HCCSJ that Sister
Davis helped oversee a major reorganization of the health care system in the
province. During her time with HCCSJ, a number of services were integrated,
and the corporation was a partner in creating the Newfoundland and Labrador
Centre for Health Information and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for
Applied Health Research. Prior to her service with the HCCSJ, Sister Davis
was executive director of St. Clare�s Mercy Hospital and a high school
teacher. Sister Davis has also been an active participant on many boards and
recently began working on her Ph.D. She holds a B.A. and B.Ed. from Memorial
University of Newfoundland, a M.A. (Theology) from the University of Notre
Dame and an M.H.Sc (Administration) from the University of Toronto. She
recently received an honourary Doctor of Laws from Memorial University. Judge James Igloliorte took up duties as a circuit magistrate for Labrador in 1981 and served in his duties from Mary�s Harbour in southern Labrador to Nain on the north coast. Judge Igloliorte began service in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in 1985 and later transferred to Corner Brook from 1993-96. He was then seconded to the negotiating team with the Labrador Inuit Association in their bid for a Comprehensive Land Claim with Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. Upon returning to Happy Valley-Goose Bay in 1997, Judge Igloliorte took up shared responsibilities for circuit visits to all Labrador communities with another judge. In 1999, Judge Igloliorte was awarded a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the field of law. Judge Igloliorte holds Bachelor degrees in Science and Education from Memorial University as well as a Bachelor of Law from Dalhousie University. He recently received an honourary Doctor of Laws from Memorial University. *Photos of Commissioners available upon request 2002 09 04 10:50 a.m. |
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