Premier Makes Announcement on Ottawa Office
Today the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced that the Newfoundland and Labrador office in Ottawa is closed, effective immediately.
“This decision is in line with my government’s commitment to operate as efficiently as possible, while managing the affairs of our province in a responsible, effective and principled manner,” said Premier Dunderdale. “Reducing the size of my Cabinet was one way to accomplish greater efficiencies, and closing this office is another. The mandate of our Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat includes dealings with the Federal Government. The secretariat is equipped to meet our requirements in that regard.”
The Newfoundland and Labrador Ottawa Office was established in 2004. The position of the province’s representative in the Ottawa office has been vacant since late January 2010. At that time, responsibility for the office was assumed by the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat, which was recently changed to become the Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat.
“I was considering candidates for the position in the Ottawa office,” said Premier Dunderdale. “However, when looking at our priority to achieve efficiencies where we can, it made sense to have our Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat assume responsibility, over the long term, for the functions that would have been carried out through the Ottawa office.”
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Media contacts:
Glenda Power Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 glendapower@gov.nl.ca |
Milly Brown Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 631-8477 millybrown@gov.nl.ca |
2012 01 10 11:00 a.m.