NLIS 5
November 22, 2005
(Executive Council)
The following statement was issued
today by Tom Marshall, Minister Responsible for Intergovernmental
Affairs. It was also read in the House of Assembly:
Earlier today, Memorial University�s Harris Centre released a report
on federal government presence in Newfoundland and Labrador. The
report provides independent confirmation of the positions this
government has advanced with the federal government on this issue.
While I encourage members to review the report in full, I wish to
highlight a few of the report�s findings.
With respect to federal employment, the report confirms that
Newfoundland and Labrador has taken more than its fair share of
reductions. Over the study period, 1981 to 2004, federal employment
in this province declined by 25 per cent, compared to a five per
cent drop nationally. In August of this year, the Minister of
Finance released data which focused on the period between 1990 and
2004. During this period, federal employment in this province
declined by 39 per cent, compared to a decrease of 18 per cent
across all provinces. As my honourable colleague rightly pointed
out, had this province experienced an 18 per cent decline, there
would be an additional 2,774 people working in our province today.
It is important to note that this disturbing decline came at a time
when our economy was struggling as a result of the ground fish stock
collapse.
The report�s findings on federal executive positions in the province
also warrant special mention. Newfoundland and Labrador had the
lowest number of these positions across all provinces over the
period 1997 to 2004 and the province�s share of federal executives
was substantially less than its share of the national population.
Nova Scotia, with less than twice the population of Newfoundland and
Labrador, has four times as many executive positions. PEI and
Newfoundland and Labrador have almost the same number of executive
positions, notwithstanding that Newfoundland and Labrador has four
times the population.
Regrettably the trends identified by these numbers continue to be
reflected in decisions by the federal government. This province has
stood united against federal decisions such as the removal of
forecasting services from the Gander Weather Office and the
impending closure of the Public Service Commission of Canada�s
provincial office. Faced with an independent confirmation of our
concerns, it is clear the federal government must begin to rebuild
its presence in this province. This government stands ready to work
cooperatively with the federal government to increase federal
presence in ways that serve the interests of both Newfoundland and
Labrador and Canada.
On behalf of government, I would like to thank the Harris Centre for
undertaking an independent study of this critically important issue.
2005 11 22
2:00 p.m. |