Minister Sweeney proclaims April as Financial Awareness Month

George Sweeney, Minister of Government Services and Lands, today proclaimed April as Financial Awareness Month in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Throughout the month, the Department of Government Services and Lands will conduct various activities to inform the general public about savings and investments, mortgage brokering, real estate, insurance and pensions issues. These activities will include information booths in shopping areas, the stock exchange game in high schools, the launch a new brochure on RESPs, a financial information kit for youth beginning post-secondary education, and a new calendar, "It Pays to be Financially Aware."

Activities in Newfoundland and Labrador are also part of a North American effort to promote financial awareness. The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and the Canadian Securities Association (CSA) have joined forces to create a fraud awareness quiz. Minister Sweeney encourages everyone to visit the website at //www.gov.nl.ca/gsl/scon and participate in the quiz when it is posted later this month.

"The goal of Financial Awareness Month is to help consumers understand their financial needs and help them develop a comprehensive strategy for meeting them. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians face a bewildering array of financial product choices. To be successful they need to understand the basics of saving and investing, know how to check out a product or salesperson and how to protect themselves against possible fraud," stated Minister Sweeney.

Photo #1: Minister Sweeney signs Financial Awareness Month proclamation

A copy of the Financial Awareness Month proclamation follows.

Media contact:

Jeff Mackey, Director of Communications, (709) 729-4860
Richard Squires, Financial Awareness Committee, (709) 729-4876

WHEREAS financial literacy is essential to the financial stability of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians; and,

WHEREAS the citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador should be in a position to make well-informed, educated decisions about where and how they invest and manage their personal income; and,

WHEREAS the Consumer and Commercial Affairs Branch of the Department of Government Services and Lands seeks to heighten consumers� awareness of the basics of investing and the importance of financial literacy;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE SWEENEY, Minister of Government Services and Lands, do hereby proclaim the month of April, 2003 as:

throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and urge all citizens to observe this month in ways significant to its importance. Be it further resolved that the Department of Government Services and Lands will conduct activities to educate on the importance of savings and investing during this month and throughout the year.

DATED at St. John�s, Newfoundland and Labrador, this 1^st day of April, 2003.

2003 04 03                                       11:55 a.m.