The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development:

Teacher Resource to Stimulate Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Today's youth are the building blocks of our province's future.

As reflected in the Speech from the Throne, Budget 2010, the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy, and the actions of all Provincial Government departments, supporting the development of the province's youth is a high-priority.

The youth-related initiatives of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development are largely based on the long-standing Getting the Message Out Program and Innovation Newfoundland and Labrador: A Blueprint for Prosperity.

We are motivated by the goal of developing future leaders in business, academia and the public service. We believe that it starts by fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit among youth at the junior high and high school levels.

Today, I am pleased to stand in this Honourable House to announce the launch of a province-wide youth innovation and entrepreneurship initiative — the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Teacher Resource Manual that will be delivered to junior high and high school students as part of their curriculum in fall 2010.

The manual is an extension of the Getting the Message Out program's classroom material that has been delivered by teachers to students as part of the curriculum for the last five years. Materials included in the manual will highlight for students how innovation can be leveraged to create entrepreneurial opportunities, how it benefits local communities, and how it strengthens the provincial economy.

To best capture the interest of students and stimulate discussion in the classroom, the manual includes a series of case studies that profile local entrepreneurs who have experienced success in a wide range of industries such as manufacturing, tourism, and advanced technology.

In an increasingly competitive, knowledge-driven business climate, the need to reach out to students is great. The need may be even greater to help create awareness of the possibilities that exist in Newfoundland and Labrador and to instill an entrepreneurial spirit among youth for the long-term success of the province.

Achieving our goals and opening the eyes of youth to what is possible in Newfoundland and Labrador requires hard work and extensive collaboration.

This new manual would not have been possible without the ongoing collaboration between teachers and the Departments of Education and Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

To close, I would like to acknowledge the important role that staff of the Department of Education played in this initiative. Their work ensures that the new material is presented in an easy-to-use format and consistent with the objectives of existing curriculum.

2010 05 18                                                   1:50 p.m.