The following are speaking notes for Judy Foote, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, at the establishment of Nordic Economic Development Corporation - Zone 6 and Red Ochre Regional Board Incorporated - Zone 7:

It is a pleasure for me to be here in Plum Point this afternoon. It is certainly an important occasion when two regional economic development boards have achieved such levels of cooperation that they can come together in the same community to celebrate the completion of this important step in the economic zone process.

I am joined today by my federal colleague Gerry Byrne, to officially launch the Red Ochre Regional Board and the Nordic Economic Development Corporation, which represent the 11th and 12th zones to establish Regional Economic Development Boards within the province. This marks a significant step forward towards achieving a new approach to regional economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Since the beginning of May, I have had the pleasure of attending 11 ceremonies launching the establishment of Regional Economic Development Boards. It is exciting to be a part of the momentum which is building around this new approach to regional economic development and to see so many people volunteering their time and energy in support of the process.

Within both your zones, all community and economic development groups have contributed through a public consultation process to developing the structure for the permanent board. The election of Regional Economic Development Board members is taken very seriously by all involved. There is a clear recognition that this is a new way of doing business.

The structure of your boards highlights the strength of local agencies and the importance which local decision making plays in the economy of your areas. The organizational structure of the Nordic Economic Development Corporation reflects a balance between representation of region-wide organizations as well as that of individual communities within the zone.

The Red Ochre Regional Board also has sub-regional representation, but something which distinguishes this board's structure is the recognition it places on the importance of youth in the whole process. With two seats on the permanent board reserved for youth: one for post- secondary representation and the other for an individual who will represent the interests of students up to Grade 12, this ensures the youth of your communities will have a voice in shaping the economic priorities of your regions.

In fact, over the summer, youth from all over the province gathered in Gander to attend a youth forum to discuss economic development activities in the province. They have formed an organization called Finally: Futures in Newfoundland and Labrador Youth. This is an organization that you will be hearing a lot from as they promote increased involvement by youth in economic development throughout the province.

The Red Ochre Regional Board is also breaking new ground in the development of home-based industries and other micro-enterprises through a program that has been established in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives and my department. The program is being piloted right here in Plum Point. A micro-business lending service has been established for young people pursuing opportunities for self-employment. Through the cooperation of the Red Ochre Board, the concept is being piloted to determine its value in assisting individuals interested in establishing micro-enterprises to create jobs for themselves.

The project is going extremely well. There are 15 young entrepreneurs participating in the program who are involved in a variety of business activities including food vending, garden maintenance, fly tying, specialty baking, crafts production, catalogue sales and small engine repairs. All 15 participants have received their first loans and some have generated income and employment from their enterprises during the past summer. The partnership which has been established to implement this self-employment pilot project is a good example of the sharing of knowledge skills and resources which is taking place as we work together in developing the local economy.

As you can see, with your permanent board structure now in place and up and running, communities, business, labour, economic development organizations and interest groups now have a new and effective means to coordinate their efforts.

A strategic plan will be developed by the boards over the coming months. The planning process will build on the opportunities identified as having potential for long-term economic viability in this region. It will build on the goals of communities, organizations and residents. It will be action-oriented, to create new wealth and in so doing create jobs for the people of this zone. Long term meaningful employment opportunities for the people in zones six and seven is the ultimate goal of the strategic plan.

I would like to stress as well, the importance of pursuing economic development activities while this planning process is taking place. It is evident that you recognize this need and that you have been actively pursuing such activities. On August 30, under the Canada/Newfoundland Strategic Regional Diversification Agreement (SRDA), Gerry Byrne and I announced that we had provided $950,000 to the Viking Trail Tourism Association to develop several community based tourism sites along the Great Northern Peninsula. Today we are pleased to announce $1 million to the Great Northern Peninsula Development Corporation to establish Newfoundland's first Arctic Char hatchery, in Daniel's Harbour.

Both tourism and aquaculture have been identified as having strategic economic potential in this area. Visitors to the province have increasingly made the Viking Trail one of their destinations and its further development will greatly increase the tourism potential of the whole region. Likewise, the aquaculture industry is showing substantial economic growth potential. The Daniel's Harbour Arctic Char hatchery has, to date, demonstrated the ability to successfully grow arctic char to market size. As a direct result of this project approval, a minimum of five permanent and three part-time new jobs will be created, and the economic base of the region will be strengthened and diversified.

There is no doubt that the regional economic zone process is capturing the attention - and imagination - of thousands of volunteers and staff committed to economic renewal in Newfoundland and Labrador. Hundreds of volunteers are putting their names forward for election to Regional Economic Development Boards. There is no clearer expression of commitment to the future of your community, your region and your province. I commend you for your vision, your leadership and your contribution.

Today, as we welcome the new Regional Economic Development Boards in these zones, we also thank the outgoing Provisional Board members. If the new approach to regional economic development is to build on strengths within each zone, the organization to lead this process had to be structured to represent the characteristics of each zone. Bringing together groups and interests who have often not worked together previously is not always easy, but you have done it. Consulting with the public to maximize input, and incorporating the results of public consultation into the final structure, has taken innovation and compromise.

For those of you who have gone on to become members of the Regional Economic Development Board, and for new members, good luck in the important work ahead of you. For the organizations and individuals not on the boards, but committed to long-term economic development, I encourage you to play an active role in planning and implementing development initiatives in both the Nordic Economic Development Corporation and the Red Ochre Regional Board.

Again, I congratulate all of you on your accomplishments to date. I encourage you to continue your volunteer efforts, and I commit my personal support as well as that of my department and of the Provincial Government. Let us work together. The challenge is great but the reward will be a stronger Newfoundland and Labrador. I look forward, as I am sure you do, to making that a reality.