I am very pleased to rise in this House today and announce an exciting initiative being undertaken by the Public Service Commission.

Over the past four years, our government has strategically invested to create jobs not just within the public service, but to foster the economic diversification necessary to see job creation in the private sector as well. While we still face challenges we also know that labour force statistics for our province are better than they have been in decades.

I am pleased today to announce the Public Service Commission will be hosting Career Expos in St. John�s, Corner Brook, Gander and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The St. John�s event will be held on May 29 and the other three locations will host expos on May 31.

These events will highlight the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service as an employer of choice.

These are the people in our province who work hard to coordinate a booming tourism industry. They plow our roads and ensure they are safe for driving. They manage our forests and facilitate mining opportunities. They are there for all of life�s big moments � issuing birth certificates, driver�s licences and yes, even collecting our taxes.

They keep our communities safe, save lives each and every day and care for our seniors. And they educate our children and lay the ground work for lifelong success. These are just some of the many career choices that exist right here, right now in our Public Service.

The Career Expo will provide important information including details on the hiring process, current and anticipated opportunities, employee benefits, types of occupations, position qualifications and salary ranges.

What better time than when government will be recruiting more than 1,000 people into the Public Service this year. This is in addition to the more than 5,700 person years of employment that will be created as a result of our investment into our infrastructure strategy.

We all know that there are labour shortages elsewhere in the country, but we also know there are exciting opportunities right here at home.

Our competitors use these types of events to attract the skills and talent necessary for effective program and service delivery. In today�s competitive global environment, this government intends to keep pace.

A proactive and positive measure, this Career Expo was conceived to support our government's strategic human resource planning and will allow us to strengthen an already dynamic and skilled Public Service. I am especially proud to note that this type of event is unprecedented within the Provincial Government.

I invite all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to watch for details of the events in the days to come and encourage all who are interested in opportunities with the provincial Public Service to participate in our Career Expo.

2007 05 15                                             1:55 p.m.