IGA Minister meets federal ministers

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister John Ottenheimer met with National Defence Minister Gordon O�Connor, federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Michael Chong and the Newfoundland and Labrador representative in the federal cabinet Loyola Hearn earlier this week in Ottawa.

"These meetings were very successful," said Minister Ottenheimer. "They provided an excellent opportunity to gauge the thoughts of my federal colleague�s on significant federal-provincial issues and provided an opportunity to raise concerns, reaffirm commitments and build a strong working relationship with each federal minister."

Minister Ottenheimer was accompanied to his meeting with Minister O�Connor by Lake Melville MHA John Hickey. Minister Ottenheimer noted that much of the discussion centred on the status of the federal government�s commitments to Five Wing Goose Bay. "Minister O�Connor informed us that DND is currently in the process of preparing a capability plan that spans the entire department and that the Five Wing commitments will be a part of that plan. The minister suggested the planning process should be completed sometime in the fall and he once again strongly reconfirmed the federal commitment to Five Wing Goose Bay."

Minister Ottenheimer said the status of federal commitments to the province was also discussed in his meetings with ministers Hearn and Chong as well as issues relating to federal presence and fiscal imbalance. "Minister Hearn reaffirmed that any commitment made by the federal government would be implemented in due course and cited recent announcements surrounding the Gander weather office and fisheries related issues as examples," said Minister Ottenheimer. "Minister Chong gave a summary of federal plans for developing long-term fiscal arrangements with the provinces and I look forward to discussing the matter in greater detail with him in the near future."

Minister Ottenheimer thanked Minister Hearn for his tremendous help in facilitating the meetings and noted strong federal-provincial relations will only provide positive benefits for this province. "These meetings are concrete examples of how the province and the federal government are working together in the best interest of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador," Minister Ottenheimer concluded.

Media contact: Billy Hickey, Communications, (709) 729-6985, 691-6390

2006 06 23                               4:25 p.m.