Premier, Minister to meet with Rural Secretariat regional councils

The nine councils of the Rural Secretariat will meet for the first time this week to participate in meetings and an orientation session. The session, being held October 25 and 26 at Marble Mountain Resort, gives the councils the opportunity to meet individually to discuss regional issues, and as a group to discuss provincial issues. Premier Danny Williams will address the group on the evening of October 25. Kathy Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Rural Secretariat and Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, will meet with the councils on October 26.

�Over the summer, we held a nomination process to solicit interest from individuals throughout the province to represent their regions on the regional councils,� said Premier Williams. �That process concluded late summer, and now we�re bringing the nine regional councils together with government ministers, MHAs and officials to identify the key priorities we must deal with if we are to create an environment of sustainable development for our communities and the province.�

�This government recognizes the need to develop a shared vision based on a clear and realistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our rural communities,� added the Premier. �We must also recognize the legacy we have inherited, and identify what strategic investments we need to make today to advance social, economic, cultural, and environmental development over the next 10 to 15 years. I am confident this will be achieved effectively through the regional and provincial councils of the Rural Secretariat.�

Minister Dunderdale said the formation of the nine regional councils and the Provincial Council of the Rural Secretariat are crucial steps in fostering dialogue between and among communities and between regions and government.

�Over the two days, the regional councils will meet both individually and collectively. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the councils with an orientation, to promote the sharing of information on the current situation with respect to demographic trends, and to identify regional strengths and assets. Over the coming months, the councils will use this information and their collective knowledge and experience in their regions to develop a shared vision for sustainable development.�

The Day of Dialogue is a follow up to a similar meeting held in Port Blandford in October 2004, at which approximately 120 individuals from throughout the province gathered to provide input into the direction of the Rural Secretariat. During that meeting, the consensus was that communities are ready and willing to engage in informed discussions with government to enhance the long term sustainability of their regions.

The regional councils consist of 15 to 18 individuals in each of the nine regions. Collectively, they represent smaller and larger communities and have experiences in social, economic, cultural and/or environmental development. They will meet four times a year to identify long-term challenges and opportunities and develop a shared vision for each region, to support collaborative and innovative thinking, and to identify policies and programs that foster sustainable regional development. The nine regions include:

• Labrador
• St. Anthony - Port au Choix
• Corner Brook - Rocky Harbour
• Stephenville - Port aux Basques
• Grand Falls-Windsor - Baie Verte - Harbour Breton
• Gander - New-Wes-Valley
• Clarenville - Bonavista
• Burin Peninsula
• Avalon Peninsula

For a list of regional council members, visit: www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2005/exec/0825n04.htm


NOTE TO EDITORS: Media representatives are invited to attend a plenary session from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, at which time Minister Dunderdale will address the regional councils.

Media contact:
  Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960, 690-5500  ElizabethMatthews@gov.nl.ca
  Lynn Evans, Rural Secretariat, (709) 729-4570, 690-6290

2005 10 25                        1:10 p.m.