The forest industry is vital to the economy of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. This importance is reflected in Budget 2008 with an increase of $1 million in the Provincial Silviculture Program for the third year in a row and the continued $4.2 million investment in the resource roads budget to industry in accessing valuable timber. This is in addition to the $14 million for forestry initiatives to assist the industry compete in the global economy and to identify and develop specific new products and market opportunities.

In continuing its commitment to growing the province’s aquaculture industry, the Provincial Government is investing an additional $4 million in the Aquaculture Capital Equity Investment Program in Budget 2008, for a total allocation of $13.5 million.

In order to ensure appropriate stewardship of the province’s aquaculture industry, the Provincial Government is also creating a Division of Aquatic Animal Health within the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. A director position will be created to run the division from the new veterinary diagnostic facility in St. Alban’s. A total of $4.7 million was allocated to build this new facility in 2007. The facility is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

"This is an important step forward in ensuring that our industry will provide top quality aquaculture products to the world, while protecting our marine environment at home," said the Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

In the interest of developing a sustainable aquaculture industry, the Provincial Government will invest $500,000 in Budget 2008 for the development of a strategy to address the infrastructure requirements of the province’s fast-growing aquaculture industry.

The Provincial Government will also continue with the implementation of its Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy in Budget 2008, with $5 million in allocations this year – of which $2 million is for the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program.  The additional $3 million will be invested this year in the strategy to implement a fish auction, seafood marketing council, fishing industry safety council, along with workforce adjustment.  This is part of a total allocation of $15 million to implement the multi-year strategy. The Provincial Government’s total renewal undertaking is an estimated $140 million.

"The strategy has been instrumental in addressing the needs of the fishing industry and making it more sustainable for the future," said Minister Rideout.

As well, Budget 2008 allocates $330,000 for international trade initiatives. To date, the Provincial Government has achieved great success in pursuing trade initiatives such as the Autonomous Tariff Reduction Quota (ATRQ) which allows Canadian shrimp products to enter the European Union at a reduced tariff.

"Significant opportunities for trade liberalization in relation to Canadian seafood remain to be addressed in the global marketplace," said Minister Rideout. "This is particularly the case in the European Union.

Budget 2008 allocates $100,000 for sealing industry communications in national and international markets. This is the same level of investment that was made in communications for the industry in the previous two budgets.

While the Provincial Government invests in economic development initiatives, it is focused on protecting the environment, providing safe and limiting any environmental footprint.  The Williams Government has also made significant progress in recent years in improving the safety and quality of public water supplies through the implementation of the Multi-Barrier Strategic Action Plan for Drinking Water Safety. Budget 2008, through the Action Plan for Drinking Water Safety, will ensure that water is clean and safe in all communities.

"Our government is committed to address in a meaningful way the issues associated with clean drinking water," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "Far too many communities live with sub-standard drinking water, which is a basic necessity. To significantly improve drinking water quality, we are allocating approximately $2.9 million over the next three years to create a strategy to tackle this issue in a way that will significantly improve the lives of residents in all communities."

The Williams Government also supports the need to reduce emissions, while maintaining prosperity and ensuring that issues of international competitiveness, employment, and economic growth are addressed.

To help deliver on these objectives, Budget 2008 allocates:

The Williams Government has taken a collaborative approach to economic development in the province. Collaboration and partnerships at the community-level are central in diversifying and strengthening local economies.

To continue these efforts, the Provincial Government has allocated an additional $156,000 to the Community Capacity Building (CCB) Program. CCB enables community groups to work with the Provincial Government to effectively develop initiatives that support economic growth.

The province’s tourism, culture, and heritage industries are increasingly important economic generators in both urban and rural regions.

Budget 2008 builds on earlier investments, including a previously announced commitment to increase the annual tourism marketing budget by an additional $1 million, and to a three-year $17.6 million commitment to initiatives identified in province’s long-term cultural strategy, Creative Newfoundland and Labrador: The Blueprint for Development and Investment in Culture (2006).

Investments being made in Budget 2008 further support and develop these growth industries and the people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who are employed within them.

Key investments include:

"Newfoundland and Labrador’s tourism industry has grown by about 15 per cent since 2003 when our government started to increase our marketing budget. Our vibrant cultural scene is among our key attractions," said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "In order to continue to maximize the potential of the tourism and cultural industries, and to remain competitive in an ever-changing global tourism market, the Provincial Government recognizes the need for ongoing research which provides the very latest information on tourism market trends, cultural tourism opportunities, tourism product innovations, and internal and external forces which may impact the industry."

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