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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