Executive Council
July 18, 2013

The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, concluded two days of successful meetings with her Cabinet in Bonavista, which focused on supporting families and communities, and promoting innovation to drive a vibrant, sustainable economy.

“Investments and policies that support our families and communities and drive innovation and business development have helped place the province in an enviable position across the country. In fact, our province is expected to lead economic growth across Canada in 2013,” said Premier Dunderdale. “Our government remains focused on the priorities identified by the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. For example, rural broadband access, which supports the growth of local businesses, has brought service to more than 400 additional communities since 2003. Access to child care for our province’s young families has increased by 30 per cent since 2007. I’m pleased to report we have had a dynamic and successful discussion and presentations here in Bonavista on innovative ways to continue to make Newfoundland and Labrador a place where families and businesses will thrive.”

Areas of discussion at the Cabinet meetings to further support families and economic activity included improvements to family-friendly policies; further engaging women in the labour force, and building on the strengths of growth sectors such as ocean technology, information and communications technology, life sciences, tourism and aquaculture.

While in Bonavista, Premier Dunderdale, along with Glen Little, the MHA for Bonavista South, also announced over $950,000 to improve municipal infrastructure through upgrades to the town’s water system and signed a Municipal Habitat Stewardship Agreement to protect valuable wetland and coastal habitat.

“The Cabinet meeting provided an excellent opportunity to have our Premier and my colleagues visit this wonderful area of the province,” said Mr. Little. “I was very pleased to be able to showcase Bonavista and the many success stories happening in the region.”

“This was an extremely rewarding experience to hold our Cabinet meeting in historic Bonavista,” said Premier Dunderdale. “This town, and the entire region, exemplifies the many exciting opportunities that are happening throughout rural Newfoundland and Labrador in many sectors, particularly the tourism industry. I thank the residents of the town and the staff of College of the North Atlantic for their hospitality and tremendous enthusiasm for their community and province.”

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