Advanced Education and Skills
Executive Council
July 17, 2014
Securing a Bright and Prosperous Future
Consultation Feedback Informing Development of Population Growth Strategy
Information gathered from extensive consultations across the province to develop a Population Growth Strategy has been released today. What We Heard: A Summary of Comments, Suggestions and Ideas on Population Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador is a compilation of the opinions of residents and stakeholders on how to best sustain communities, grow the province’s population and support labour market needs and economic prosperity. Feedback from these consultations is also being used to support the development of the Workforce Development Strategy.
“Newfoundland and Labrador is thriving. Our economy and labour market have been growing and more people in this province are working than ever before. Finding ways to grow our population is vital to the long-term prosperity of this province. Through our consultations we heard perspectives on the current realities of the provincial labour market, and on the need to create more family-friendly practices and more inclusive communities to attract and retain immigrants. These suggestions and ideas are guiding us in the development of our provincial Population Growth Strategy.”
- The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills
The What We Heard document summarizes over 1,800 suggestions, comments and ideas gathered from community workshops, written submissions, and meetings with residents and organizations. Consultations included 11 community workshops in nine regions of the province with 210 individual residents and representatives of community associations, municipalities, and private businesses participating in these events. Over 100 youth and nearly 200 members and representatives of community organizations, private sector employers, boards and associations were also engaged during separate meetings.
“Having a vibrant labour market, family-friendly practices and inclusive environments are factors people consider when deciding to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador. This document illustrates the input we received from people during the consultation process and is available online so everybody can see the suggested solutions and ideas about how to strengthen our communities.”
- The Honourable Sandy Collins, Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement
Unprecedented economic and business growth, combined with a declining working age population, have created labour market pressures in Newfoundland and Labrador. In many areas of the province, job vacancies go unfilled and employers struggle to recruit and retain people with the right skill sets to meet the growing needs of the workforce. To help address these challenges, the Population Growth Strategy will be built on three key pillars: newcomers, families, and communities. The Population Growth Strategy, along with the Workforce Development Strategy, will support government’s overarching framework for growing the labour supply and enhancing innovation and diversity in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
To view the What We Heard document, please visit: www.gov.nl.ca/populationgrowth/what_we_heard.htm.
QUICK FACTS- The Provincial Government released What We Heard: A Summary of Comments, Suggestions, and Ideas on Population Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador online at www.gov.nl.ca/populationgrowth/what_we_heard.htm.
- The document includes a summary of ideas on how to grow the population in all regions of the province, and will inform the development of the Population Growth Strategy and the Workforce Development Strategy.
- The document summarizes over 1,800 ideas, including suggestions to improve the provincial labour market and develop more family-friendly practices and inclusive communities to attract and retain newcomers.
- Consultations included 11 community workshops in nine regions with 210 individual residents and representatives of community associations, municipalities, and private businesses participated in these events.
- The Population Growth Strategy is currently in development and will be released in 2014. The strategy will be built upon three pillars focusing on newcomers, families, and communities.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
| John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-0753, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
Kip Bonnell Communications Manager Office of Public Engagement 709-729-1221, 687-9081 kbonnell@gov.nl.ca |
2014 07 17 10:45 a.m.