With the conclusion of this season�s marine service on the Labrador Straits, the Air Foodlift Subsidy (AFS) program is now in effect for the Straits and Southern Labrador.

"The Air Foodlift Subsidy program continues to provide the people of coastal Labrador access to nutritious perishable foods during the winter months at reasonable prices," said the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs. "Extensive community consultations have resulted in positive enhancements to the AFS such as starting the program earlier and providing a healthier food item list. These improvements are a testament to the Provincial Government�s ongoing commitment to the people of Labrador."

The AFS program will remain in effect until ice conditions allow the Apollo ferry to commence regular crossings for the 2008 marine shipping season. The AFS program for the North Coast of Labrador started on November 14, 2007.

"The Government of Newfoundland Labrador remains committed to the Air Foodlift Subsidy program," said Minister Hickey. "We will continue to monitor the program closely and value all public input as we work to further improve this vital service."

Developed in 1997, the AFS program provides access to nutritious and perishable items for people living in coastal Labrador. The program operates only during winter months when shipping rates are at their highest and transportation is limited. Under the program, a subsidy is paid to enrolled retailers to offset the high cost of flying perishable foods into coastal communities. The retailer will then pass the savings along to consumers.

Currently there are 20 communities involved in the AFS program. Since the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs assumed administration of the program in 2003, measures have been implemented to make it more efficient, including an increase in funding from $300,000 to $400,000 in the 2006 provincial budget. A program coordinator has been recently hired to administer the AFS program.

For further information on the Air Foodlift Subsidy Program, go to: //www.gov.nl.ca/laa.

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John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2008 01 21                                                     10:15 a.m.