Preliminary consultant�s report received on
Impacts of the Planned Reconfiguration of the Labrador Coastal Marine Service

Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Kelvin Parsons has received a preliminary report from an external consultant on the impact on residents of the North Coast of Labrador, the Town of Lewisporte and surrounding area, and the province with respect to government�s planned reconfiguration of the Labrador coastal marine service. As part of government�s commitment to openness and transparency, the minister directed the consultant to immediately provide a copy of the preliminary report to all the stakeholders who were consulted as part of the study.

"This will provide the stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on its contents prior to the submission of a final report to government. It would not be appropriate or fair for me to comment on the substance of the preliminary report until all stakeholders have had an opportunity to review it and provide their feedback," said Minister Parsons.

The stakeholders will be asked to submit their comments to the consultant, with a copy to the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, by Friday, October 25, 2002. The final report is expected by October 28, 2002, and will be released to the public immediately thereafter. Government will then take a final decision on implementation of the reconfigured service along the Labrador coast.

On March 22, 2002, the province announced that with the completion of the Trans Labrador Highway from Red Bay to Cartwright in the fall of 2002, and to reflect government�s policy of providing marine services only to communities that are not connected by road, the Labrador coastal marine service would be reconfigured beginning in the 2003 season. In July 2002, the province committed to undertake a study in order to review the impact on residents of the North Coast of Labrador, the Town of Lewisporte and surrounding area, and the province as a whole, with respect to this planned reconfiguration. The province engaged The Institute for the Advancement of Public Policy, an independent consulting firm, to carry out the study.

Media contact: Tracy Kenney Industry, Trade and Rural Development (709) 729-2257.

2002 10 18                                        3:35 p.m.