Municipal Affairs
Executive Council
Health and Community Services
Tourism, Culture and Recreation
April 19, 2011
Investments for Communities Help Build a Prosperous Future
The Provincial Government continues to make strategic investments in
communities and organizations to help ensure the prosperity, safety and
well-being of all residents. Budget 2011 provides approximately $14.6
million to help protect and enable citizens and communities to continue to
grow in prosperity and self-reliance.
“The Provincial Government is committed to making significant investments in
our communities to help ensure all citizens have access to services and
programs to support their overall well-being,” said the Honourable Felix
Collins, Minister of Justice. “Providing services in fire protection,
justice and violence prevention will help us fulfil that commitment. Our
Budget 2011 investments will put in place the human resources and
infrastructure we need to continue to provide safe, efficient and effective
programs throughout the province that will help guide us on our path to
self-reliance.”
Safe and Prosperous Communities
Budget 2011 includes a historic investment in fire protection services of
$4.9 million. This funding builds on the significant budgetary allocations
made previously by the Provincial Government, through Fire and Emergency
Services – Newfoundland and Labrador. To further modernize the municipal
firefighting fleet, Budget 2011 provides $3.9 million to purchase new fire
trucks and firefighting vehicles, an additional $1.4 million to strengthen
the $2.5 million funding provided last year. Budget 2011 will also continue
a $1 million investment for new equipment for fire departments, focusing on
the personal safety of firefighters. In addition to these significant fire
protection investments and announced as part of Budget 2011 tax measures, a
new tax credit valued at $1.4 million will be available to volunteer
firefighters.
“Never before have municipal fire departments in Newfoundland and
Labrador seen such a level of commitment and I am very pleased to assist
communities to ensure a strong response capacity for residents,” said the
Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister
Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services. “Our historic investment will
allow for as many as 22 new firefighting vehicles and will build on the
significant improvements already being made for the equipment needs in fire
departments, predominantly in our more rural areas. The firefighters of our
province are a committed and courageous group of individuals, helping to
protect our property and ensure our residents are as safe as possible and we
are certainly pleased to recognize them with the new provincial
firefighters’ tax credit.”
Minister O’Brien was also pleased to announce that as part of the Provincial
Government commitment to sustainable local governments, Budget 2011 will
provide a one-time increase of $4.6 million to the Municipal Operating
Grants (MOGs) provided to municipalities, bringing the total allocation to
$22.4 million. Along with this increase, the Department of Municipal Affairs
will also undertake a review of the MOG formula.
Allocations for this year will increase the current Municipal Operating Grants for municipalities as follows:
- 50 per cent for municipalities with populations under 1,000;
- 30 per cent for municipalities with populations from 1,000 to 3,000;
- 20 per cent for municipalities with populations from 3,001 to 7,000; and,
- 10 per cent for municipalities with populations over 7,000.
Through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, the Provincial Government is investing $100,000 to place Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in swimming pools and other community recreation facilities across the province. This is the second year of a partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation which coordinates the Restart a Heart fundraising campaign. The main focus of this initiative, which was announced on April 11, is to provide a safe environment for citizens to engage in recreation and sport activities. To date, about 50 AEDs have been put in arenas throughout the province. The Provincial Government is the largest contributor to this campaign, with a total investment of $200,000.
Funding towards AEDs is directly linked to one of the key actions outlined in the Provincial Government’s recreation and sport strategy Active, Healthy, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Justice in Communities
The Department of Justice plays a key role in creating a fair, equitable and
safe society where all people can pursue their lawful rights and freedoms.
Budget 2011 will see an investment of over $1.1 million to policing,
corrections and court facilities throughout the province:
- $529,000 for the continuation of the Specialized Family Violence Court in St. John’s. This court focuses on treatment intervention for eligible offenders and provides support and interventions to victims and their children;
- $357,000 for programs and services in Natuashish and Sheshatshui. The Provincial Government understands the unique cultural needs of Aboriginal individuals living in Labrador and the need for specialized services and programming. This builds on the success experienced in the continuation of projects in Sheshatshui such as the Innu Healing Path initiative;
- $116,800 for a crime analyst associated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Crime Reduction Strategy to be located in the Trinity-Conception District. The crime analyst will enable the RCMP to better understand crime, crime trends, groups or individuals who are driving crime and to assist those who are most vulnerable to crime; and,
- $108,300 for a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer for the Child Exploitation Unit in Corner Brook to build on the force’s capacity to address the exploitation and harassment of children. This will enable investigators to be proactive in identifying, investigating and charging alleged offenders who prey on children.
“These investments build on the work the Department of Justice is doing to provide a safe environment for our citizens,” said Minister Collins. “Allocating significant resources toward public safety and policing is fundamental to the functioning of a prosperous and self-reliant society. These initiatives are important to our citizens as we continue to enhance our justice system.”
Combating Violence
The Provincial Government recognizes the importance of investing in
community organizations that help create a better province for all
residents. The Violence Prevention Initiative is a six-year,
government-community partnership to fund long-term solutions to violence
against those most at risk. Budget 2011 will allocate $2.1 million in the
overall $12 million six-year initiative. This year the Provincial Government
is increasing funding to 19 organizations that are working towards violence
prevention and the economic and social equality of women. The investments
are:
- $100,000 in additional funding for the province’s 10 Regional Coordinating Committees to increase capacity for violence prevention activities and coordination of services;
- $10,000 in increased funding for the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre to help expand services throughout the province, including increased education and services in Labrador; and,
- $46,000 in additional operating funding for the eight Status of Women Councils to increase capacity to help women access services and programs related to social and economic well-being. Since 2006, the Provincial Government has increased funding for these organizations by a total of $372,000.
“The investments the Provincial Government is making are vital to helping our community partners build on the great work already underway,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. “Violence is rooted in inequality. As we work towards finding long-term solutions to violence, we must also take steps to advance equality for our vulnerable populations. Our government has forged successful partnerships with the women’s centres and violence prevention organizations to address both of these issues. The long-term effects of these partnerships will create a better life for everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Through the Department of Health and Community Services, Budget 2011 also provides $360,000 to increase safety and security at transition houses for women throughout the province. This investment will allow for upgrades to 10 transition houses to meet standards related to safety and security and crisis management training for staff. Transition houses provide a safe and secure place for women experiencing abuse to find refuge. Services offered include 24-hour emergency accommodations seven days a week, 24-hour crisis phone line, crisis intervention and prevention, and support and information for women.
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Media contacts:
| Vanessa Colman-Sadd Director of Communications Department of Justice 709-729-6985, 682-6593 vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca |
Cheryl Gullage Public Relations Specialist Fire and Emergency Services – Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-0857, 631-9962 cherylgullage@gov.nl.ca |
| Diana Quinton Director of Communications Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation 709-729-0928, 631-8155 DianaQuinton@gov.nl.ca |
Melissa MacLeod Communications Specialist Women’s Policy Office 709-729-6225, 693-7938 melissamacleod@gov.nl.ca |
| Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 699-6524 JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca |
Ken Morrissey Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 685-6612 kenmorrissey@gov.nl.ca |
2011 04 19 2:35 p.m.