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Speaking Notes for
Judy Foote
Minister of Development and Rural Renewal
for the
Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation Youth Forum
Grand Falls-Windosr
Saturday, March 22, 1997


Good morning. I am delighted that so many of you made a point of being here on a Saturday morning to discuss your future and your role in the economic development of Newfoundland and Labrador. There is so much opportunity for you here in this province, and it�s important that we all recognize these opportunities and take an active role in helping you pursue them. Your participation here today is already proof that you have a keen interest in seeing your province continue to develop economically and that you want to contribute to that development.

This morning I'm going to share with you some of the opportunities which exist for you in this province and examples of some of the exciting business initiatives which many young people as well as more seasoned entrepreneurs have undertaken throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

You are involved in what is rapidly becoming a widespread movement among youth across this province. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians under the age of 30 are becoming active participants in the economic zone process. As well you are taking leadership roles in various initiatives within your communities. In fact, this is the fourth youth forum in the last two weeks alone. Since last year there have been 10 youth forums altogether and two zones are in the planning stages of the second such forum.

Youth are also represented on seven out of the 18 regional economic development boards. However, every regional economic development board has some vehicle, such as a youth council, to represent the views of the young people in each zone. Many of the youth forums have been organized by the youth representatives and coordinators, such as Jerome Moore who organized today�s forum. You have a voice through your youth representative, someone who will represent your views to the Exploits Valley Economic Development Corporation. The challenge for young people is to make economic development a priority by getting involved with economic initiatives in their regions.

I cannot stress enough just how important it is that you do get involved. Government is committed to listening to your views and acting on what it hears. This is the premise behind the formation of the regional economic development boards. You know better than anyone your strengths and your needs. And who knows better than those who live in a particular region what will work and what won�t? And who is in a better position to determine the type of future for an area than those with the most to gain -- and the most to lose? -- you, the youth of Newfoundland and Labrador.

This morning I am going to spend a few minutes discussing the opportunities which exist for our young people in this province. Opportunities which government is endeavouring to create for you, through meaningful programming centred on the needs of young people in this province. Opportunities which youth have already created for themselves, and the opportunities of which you can take advantage.

First I am gling to talk about how these opportunities fit into government�s economic growth agenda, and what government is doing to ensure that long-term economic development throughout Newfoundland and Labrador is a key component of that plan.

overnment's plan for economic growth is about creating an environment in which business can thrive. It is about finding new opportunities which will result in jobs and promote long-term economic development. Government is working to revitalize the rural regions of our province and we are building partnerships with the people of our province through the Regional Economic Development Boards, though community and business organizations, and we include you, the youth of the province as a key group in our long-term plans. While government can facilitate the creation of an environment which is most conducive to economic growth, we can not make it happen without community leaders, entrepreneurs -- young and old, and those business ideas that make it all happen.

The efforts of the Department of Development and Rural Renewal, and all of the provincial government's economic development activities, can only be successful if they support and enhance the creativity and competitiveness of the business community. Government�s role is to create a positive and stimulative business climate in which the private sector can generate sustainable wealth and employment opportunities for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Many of you undoubtedly listened to and are well aware of the budget which the provincial government delivered on Thursday. From my perspective, it was a good budget. In fact, yesterday's Evening Telegram described business leaders from Toronto to New York as "giddy with fiscal euphoria" over this year's budget. They see the economic outlook for this province as very encouraging given the ongoing economic development activities and the responsible position your government has taken in dealing with the deficit.

Thursday's budget demonstrated government�s ongoing commitment to economic development in this province with a reinforced emphasis on the rural regions of this province and a renewed government- wide commitment to the Regional Economic Development Boards.

My department is increasing its focus on the 20 economic zones. Over the coming months, we will be expanding our office locations in partnership with the federal government and community-based partners. There will be an office which provides small enterprise and support services of the Department of Development and Rural Renewal in each of the 20 economic zones throughout the province.

These 20 office locations will contribute to and complement the work of the regional economic development boards. Now, as each Board continues to identify opportunities within each zone, they will have ready access to services they require to implement the economic initiatives being pursued in each zone.

These offices will be open to everyone, but I would especially like to see more young people walk through our office doors. And on the chance that you may not come to us, I will be instructing my staff to seek you out because I want a special emphasis put on cultivating young entrepreneurs in our province. I want my staff to take a proactive approach and encourage young people to become actively involved in regional economic development.

Government recognizes the value of cultivating our young people. As we are all aware, the out-migration of our young people has been an ongoing challenge in every region of this province, but especially in the rural areas. We want you to stay in Newfoundland, to find work in Newfoundland, and to continue to live in Newfoundland.

On Thursday, we announced that in the coming fiscal year, $4.5 million will be provided for a student summer employment program. These funds will lever additional new investments from the private sector. In all, this will provide summer employment for 3,000 students. This programming comes in the form of SWASP, or Student Work and Services Program where students are paid a stipend but also earn tuition vouchers to be redeemable at a recognized post-secondary institution. The Graduate Employment Program is another successful program which offers wage incentives to employers to hire recent graduates, while the Graduate Self-Employment Program provides recent graduates interested in becoming entrepreneurs, with weekly income support and a training allowance to start their own business. The Council of the Students Union at MUN and Sir Wilfred Grenfell College spoke to the need for continuing student employment programs during the budget consultation process.

Government also recently announced a �Tutoring for Tuition� program to assist students in low income families. This program enables high school students to earn money to attend post- secondary institutions by providing tutoring to students of low income families.

Other programs which government supports, such as the Junior Achievement groups and micro-lending initiatives, provide incentives for young people to become entrepreneurs and to start their own businesses. The Department of Development and Rural Renewal is focused particularly on providing the necessary incentives and services to people interested in starting their own businesses. We provide small business counselling with financial and marketing specialists to provide advice and guidance as you start and develop your business. These business counselling services are linked very closely with our regional economic development mandate.

One special program offered through my department is the "Getting the Message Out" campaign. This program is an upbeat public education program which presents a more accurate view of the Newfoundland and Labrador economy and promotes many of our success stories. All too often these success stories go unnoticed and there is a tendency to accentuate the negative. There are good things happening all over this province, and our GMO program is one way in which we get that message out.

Two students from Memorial University's School of Business are hired every semester to prepare presentations and deliver them to high school students throughout the province. These presentations are designed to promote our province and to make our people, particularly our young people, more aware of and feel proud of the exciting things happening here. These presentations promote the value of education and encourage entrepreneurship among our young people. There can be a bright future here for you. To quote Steve Oldford of C & O Tags, "There is nothing to stop you if you have a really good idea, just go for it." Steve is the "O" in a partnership business with Mike Carberry, two young men like many in this room today.

There are many young people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador who have started their own small businesses. One name many of you may be familiar with is Chris Griffiths of Griffiths Guitars.

About five years ago when Chris graduated from high school, he knew he did not want to leave the province to find work. So, he took the interest he had in guitars and started his own business. Chris worked closely with the staff of what was then Enterprise Newfoundland and Labrador, to develop a business plan and get advice on how to start his business. He took a few business training courses and worked to develop his first business. Chris was 18 years old and grossed $18,000 in his first year of business. Now he is 23 years old. He is in his fourth successful year of operation, has a couple of employees and grossed $250,000 this year. And he is continuing to expand.

Another company, called Zedd Technologies, was started by three enterprising young engineer students attending Memorial University who, for a class project, had to create their own business and develop a marketable product. They developed a flotation system to house an antenna used to link with the satellite communications used on board a ship. Emad Rizualla, President of Zedd Technologies, and his small team of engineers consisting of Dave Newberry and Tony Whalen, designed this new system so that, regardless of how the ship moved, connections to the satellite link remained constant.

Another exciting example of an enterprising young woman is Tami Fisher of Blood Works in Corner Brook. Tami is a registered Laboratory Technologist who runs a lab collection service. Her customers pay for the convenience of having Tami come to their home or place of work to take their blood for testing. By availing of this service they don't have to spend precious time going to the hospital. This is an especially useful service for those patients who need to have blood tests taken routinely.

I watched several of the vignettes produced by FINALY which I am sure most of you know stands for: "Future in Newfoundland and Labrador's Youth." Among them was Jessica Ray Parsons of Jessica Ray Recycled Clothing in Carbonear. Jessica has created a business for herself and says she gets satisfaction out of doing something that she finds personally satisfying. She learned to sew at the age of 9.

Christine Parsons has a tea room and bakery in Wittondale Pioneer Village which is at the entrance to Gros Morne National Park. Her dream is to have a restaurant but she says it is important to start small.

These are exciting and innovative opportunities which young people, like yourselves, created out of their own ingenuity and desire to work for themselves, while contributing to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The success and growth of small and medium-sized businesses represents, in no small measure, the future of Newfoundland and Labrador. In fact, today, 66 percent of all businesses in this province employ less than five people.

Many of you may be familiar with Indian Bay Frozen Foods, for example. This successful company is located in Centreville. This company was recently awarded Honourable Mention in the Small Business category at the Newfoundland and Labrador Export Awards. Indian Bay Frozen Foods exports berry products, fish and processed seal meat across Canada and is quickly making inroads into Asian countries and the United Kingdom.

A success story here in zone 12 is Steelcor Industries of Buchans. Steelcor was recently awarded a contract with Boeing International. The securement of this contract marks a significant turning point in Steelcor�s future and is testament to government�s growth agenda in action. The business opportunities offered through an alliance with a company of the stature of Boeing clearly signifies that Steelcor can compete on the international stage. Companies such as Steelcor, operating in rural Newfoundland and Labrador are making significant contributions towards the diversification of our regional economies and present new employment opportunities for the people of this province. It shows that Newfoundland companies can supply major markets throughout the world with high-end quality products.

These are just a couple of examples of what is happening throughout our province. And while the fishery and resource- based industries continue to be very important to our economy, it is obvious that we need not confine ourselves to these industries, and we shouldn't. Government has targeted sectors such as tourism, information technology and non-resource based manufacturing as growth areas in the economy.

Ideas for economic growth and business development know no boundaries. As young people you have the advantage of not being jaded with the knowledge of what has been tried and has not succeeded. You can focus on future opportunities and let your imaginations run with it.

You don�t have to start with manufacturing or even advanced technology industries to be a successful entrepreneur. The production of crafts, for example, is picking up steam throughout the province as increasing markets external to the province recognize the high quality and superior workmanship of the people who produce crafts in here.

Also, traditionally, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have a tendency to focus on the domestic Newfoundland marketplace. It is important that we explore opportunities in the global marketplace as well. For example, my department is exploring export opportunities with the french islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. These french islands offer economic potential that has never been fully realized in this province. A major opportunity we are investigating in this new partnership is through the gateway offered by St. Pierre and Miquelon to the enormous market of the European Economic Union.

St. Pierre and Miquelon currently imports approximately $100 Million worth of goods and services. Of that $100 Million, Newfoundland and Labrador only exports $3.4 Million. That's $96.6 Million which St. Pierre and Miquelon is importing from somewhere else. We are working to see if this province can meet more of their import requirements.

I never cease to be excited and impressed by the good things which are going on all over Newfoundland and Labrador and by the youth in this province. I have lived in this province most of my life and have always thought I had a good knowledge of the things we have to offer. But since becoming Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, I have had the opportunity to meet many young and more seasoned entrepreneurs throughout the province and I am continually amazed by how much is going on right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

I reviewed some of the "High Tide" newsletters and videos produced by the "Future in Newfoundland and Labrador's Youth" (FINALY) youth group, headed by Fiona Heald. These newsletters highlight the good things which youth throughout the province are doing as they explore their skills in entrepreneurship. One girl, Natasha Turnbull in Labrador City wrote of starting a summer business which put her computer skills to work by offering tutoring classes and programming services. Another man, Philip Earle of Forteau, purchased a small poultry farm. He credits his success to the support of his community in purchasing local product.

Every one of you here today can get involved as well. I have been focusing on entrepreneurship development, but of course you can get involved in the economic development of your communities in many other ways. The young people of our province are one of the most important ingredients for the future success of the Regional Economic Development Boards. You should be involved in the planning, participation and decision-making of these boards. It is your challenge to be aggressive enough to seek the greatest degree of participation you can. Because five years from now, or ten years from now, you will be the community leaders, the business leaders and the government leaders building on the work you are doing today.

I congratulate each and every one of you for your participation and interest in today�s youth forum and in the future of your province. As Minister of Development and Rural Renewal I will do everything within my authority to ensure that your continued involvement in the zone process and in economic development activities continues to make a difference. Thank you and good luck.


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