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NLIS 2 October 13, 2004 (Executive Council) (Innovation, Trade and Rural Development) Premier Williams and Minister Dunderdale to hold consultation on the Rural Secretariat Premier Danny Williams, along with Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Rural Secretariat, will meet with stakeholders representing economic and social communities throughout all regions of the province to discuss the Rural Secretariat. The meeting will be held tomorrow in Port Blandford. "Our government believes that our rural communities play a critical role in the economic and social well-being of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Premier Williams. "We committed to the establishment of a Rural Secretariat to be the focal point for government in working with local and regional partners to build strong and dynamic communities. The focus of the Port Blandford meeting will be to gather input from these partners on the mandate and role of the Rural Secretariat. We are looking forward to discussing with these individuals how the Rural Secretariat can help ensure good cooperation among all the various partners who have responsibility for advancing economic and social development in the province." Approximately 120 individuals representing municipalities; regional economic development boards; health and education boards; and the federal government will be in attendance. Representatives from the business, disabled, women's, youth and aboriginal communities, as well as other community-based organizations are invited to participate, along with government officials. "This is the first such gathering of its kind. We hope it will lead the way for more collaborative approaches to economic and social development in the province. We want to ensure a variety of voices is heard and various perspectives are included for the discussion on the Rural Secretariat," said Minister Dunderdale. "We are looking forward to hearing the ideas and perspectives individuals bring and then using that information to formulate, more definitively, the direction the Rural Secretariat will take in the future." Premier Williams and Minister Dunderdale will be joined by several of their Cabinet and caucus colleagues at the day-long session. The premier added: "Together, we will identify the challenges and the opportunities for rural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. I look forward to hearing from all of the participants as, collectively, we develop strategies for the future prosperity of our province." Media contacts: 2004 10 13 11:55 a.m. |
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