Business, labour and government form a strategic partnership to advance the economy

The provincial government, business and labour have launched a strategic partnership initiative to foster a new collaborative, consensus-building approach to advancing the socio-economic interests of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The initiative was announced at a news conference today by Premier Roger Grimes; Elaine Price, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour; and Mike Wilson, President of the St. John's Board of Trade. Also attending were Deputy Premier Beaton Tulk, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development; Minister of Labour, Anna Thistle; Marilyn Tucker, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers' Council; Paul Stride, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Commerce; and Ron Smith, 1st Vice-President, and Dave Reynolds, Secretary-Treasurer, of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour.

"This partnership will be an important part of advancing our overall economic agenda as set out in the Renewal Strategy for Jobs and Growth. In partnership with business and labour, we are acting on our Jobs and Growth commitment to develop new models of economic co-operation and collaboration," said Premier Grimes.

"The regional economic development boards are leading this challenge at the community and regional level. We need to elevate this effort to a higher level that focuses on the �big picture' provincially," Premier Grimes said. "New ways of advancing the economy through effective partnerships are essential to building on our economic progress, which is in all our interests."

The strategic partnership initiative will take the concept of collaboration among business, labour and government to a new level by providing a forum for building consensus on the major issues affecting the economy of the province as a whole. It will help business, labour and government to work more effectively together to meet the province's economic challenges and capture its opportunities at a strategic, province-wide level.

The core of this new initiative will be a Strategic Partnership Forum, a semi-annual meeting among business, labour and government leaders that will be chaired by the Premier. Phil Warren, Chair of the Premier's Council on Social Development, will represent community interests at the table and ensure that appropriate linkages are made between economic and social development. The Advisory Council on the Economy and Technology and the Youth Advisory Council will also participate in the forum. The forum will be designed to improve communication among major players in the economy. It will serve as a vehicle for sharing and developing common perspectives on the performance of the economy and for identifying key areas where business, labour and government need to work together to address specific challenges in the economy, as was recently accomplished in the reforms made to the Labour Standards Act.

"While this may be somewhat experimental as a new way of doing business together, it does build on recent successful collaborative action on key issues such as the Workers' Compensation Task Force, and the review of the Labour Standards Act," said Premier Grimes.

"Labour, business and government all share a common interest in the further development of the economy. A collaborative approach to economic challenges can often create more effective solutions, as we have already seen with the results of our recent efforts on Workers' Compensation and the Labour Standards Act," said Elaine Price. "Strategic partnership is not about collective bargaining, but allows business, labour and government to focus on their common interest in developing and maintaining a healthy economy."

Mike Wilson of the St. John's Board of Trade agrees. "Strategic partnership is not about quick fixes, but recognizes that dialogue and cooperation can deliver more effective results over the long-term. Newfoundland and Labrador is a relatively small economy in a large global marketplace. It is imperative that we find ways of working together more effectively in the interest of the province as a whole."

The concept of a government-business-labour partnership to advance the economy was raised during the consultations on the Renewal Strategy for Jobs and Growth. Business and labour leaders across the province consistently advised government of their interest in exploring a cooperative approach on economic issues. In response, government brought together a team of senior business, labour and government officials to explore new models of strategic cooperation. The group reviewed partnership models in several countries including Iceland, Ireland and the Netherlands to see first hand how this challenge has been successfully approached in these jurisdictions. 

Premier Grimes said that "while the development of this initiative benefitted from the experience and lessons learned in other jurisdictions, this is a made in Newfoundland and Labrador initiative to suit our particular needs."

The Strategic Partnership Forum will be supported by a team of senior labour and business leaders and government officials that will undertake appropriate preparatory and follow-up work for the forum on specific issues flagged for collaborative action. The first meeting of the forum is expected to take place toward the end of February.

Media contacts:

Carl Cooper, Premier's Office (709) 729-3960.

Josephine Cheeseman, Industry, Trade and Rural Development (709) 729-4570.

Elaine Price, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (709)754-1660.

Lori Lee Oates, St. John's Board of Trade (709) 726-2961.

Maureen O'Rielly, Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Commerce (709) 651-6522.

Marilyn Tucker, Newfoundland and Labrador Employers' Council (709) 368-6532.

2002 01 17                        2:10 p.m.