Partnership Emerges as Valuable Pipeline

Consensus-building, shared-understanding, problem solving and, most importantly, cooperation serve as the guiding principles for The Strategic Partnership.

It is the commitment to these principles that enables leaders from business, labour, and the Provincial Government to participate in ongoing dialogue and collaboration that address both the challenges and opportunities impacting Newfoundland and Labrador.

Glen Hodgson of the Conference Board of Canada, described the partnership as "building relationships and developing cohesive policies and practices" through a process "that is unparalleled right now in North America." Armine Yalnizyan from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, indicated that it is an initiative "the rest of Canada would do well to learn from."

As a government, we are very pleased to hear this commentary. We are very proud of the partnership's work and the open relationship that it has created. It has emerged as a pipeline where there is a free-flow of communication exchanged on the province's social and economic development.

Relationships developed through the partnership, for example, helped advance our work with local union officials last May when the decision was made to make the unprecedented investment of $43 million in severance to the more than 800 people abandoned by AbitibiBowater. It allowed for a collective, united approach to supporting displaced workers.

Lana Payne of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, was highly-supportive of our action and viewed our approach as being the right one for the region.

Currently, through a series of committees, the partnership is examining a wide-range of issues related to labour market development, innovation, and employment relations. It is also helping to facilitate research on social and economic development issues in collaboration with Memorial University.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Denis Mahoney.

Over the last five years, Mr. Mahoney has worked tirelessly in his position as Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Coalition and was an important conduit in championing the interests of the business community while respecting the views of his peers.

A constant in his approach was his willingness to recognize the merits of specific issues and finding common ground. I am pleased to report that he will remain a part of the partnership through the Employment Relations Committee.

In the wake of Mr. Mahoney's departure, I would like to welcome Roger Flood to The Strategic Partnership as the new Chair of the Business Coalition. Mr. Flood has a long-history of working with labour, business, and government which will benefit the Partnership for many years to come.