Advanced Education and Skills
May 29, 2012
Action of the Provincial Government Reflects
Unwavering Support of Rural Communities
Supporting the growth of traditional and emerging industries and business expansion are key priorities of the Provincial Government’s approach to economic development in rural areas of the province.
To achieve these objectives the Provincial Government has allocated almost $200 million for investment in programs and services that support economic and business development.
These programs support greater infrastructure, skills development, and greater innovation in all regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is an approach that is contributing to development of a wide-range of industry sectors, new employment opportunities, and business expansion, as well as regional infrastructure that encourages economic activity.
“This government, in contrast to previous governments, has initiated a strategic, multi-pronged approach to diversifying and strengthening the provincial economy,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. “It is an approach that supports industry growth, creates avenues for businesses to expand their export activity, and leads to new employment opportunities for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
As the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills outlined yesterday (Monday, May 28) in the House of Assembly, the Provincial Government continues to support economic development and the resulting opportunities created by a changing economy and address a growing labour market demand.
“We have an economy that is changing, and there will be opportunities for the people of this province,” said Minister Burke. “Over the next 10 years there will be 70,000 job openings in Newfoundland and Labrador. We want to be there to work with as many people as possible to ensure that they have an opportunity for skills development.”
Where previous Provincial Government’s focused on short-term solutions, the current administration supports the creation and expansion of such promising industry sectors as aquaculture in the Coast of Bay and Green Bay Region, cultural tourism in the Bonavista-Trinity area, and health and social sciences in the central region.
“As reflected by our recent support of an innovative project in Lord’s Cove, as well as our significant investments in such initiatives as the St. Anthony Wharf, the Shorefast Foundation in Fogo Island, Canada Fluorspar in St. Lawrence and countless other investments in businesses and key regional infrastructure, the Provincial Government is a committed partner of rural communities,” said Minister Hutchings. “We will continue to action initiatives that build on this activity and position the province for sustained growth.”
Other initiatives targeting the social and economic development of rural communities include:
• More than $135 million in economic and business development initiatives – of which 71 per cent have been made in the province’s rural communities since 2005. This includes more than $60 million from established business development programs, as well as one-off investments, and support for contact centres.
• $27 million has been invested in initiatives that take aim at improving access to high speed Internet. These investments have proven successful as access, in the last seven years, has increased from 114 communities to more than 470 communities – a 312 per cent increase from 2003.
• In the central region, the Provincial Government stepped-up when AbitibiBowater turned its back on displaced employees and provided $43 million severance payments to approximately 800 individuals.
• Billions have been invested in provincial infrastructure. The bulk of which has taken place in rural areas;
• Significant investments have made in rural health care specifically in areas of new infrastructure, capital equipment, and repairs and renovations; and
• Capital funding being allocated for major K-12 school projects.
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Media contacts:
| Scott Barfoot Director of Communications Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 690-6290 scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca |
John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-0753, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
2012 05 29 10:10 a.m.