NLIS 50
March 21, 2002
(Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs)
BACKGROUNDER
Budget focuses on Labrador
General Overview
- The 2002 Budget announces a number of key
items for Labrador, particularly with respect to transportation.
Details
- The Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador and the Government of Canada signed the $340 million Labrador
Transportation Initiative Agreement (LTIF) in March 1997. The agreement
resulted in the transfer of the Labrador coastal marine service,
including two vessels � the MV Sir Robert Bond and the MV Northern
Ranger � to the province from the federal government.
- The fund was established to complete Phase
I (from Labrador West to Happy Valley-Goose Bay) and Phase II (from Red
Bay to Cartwright) of the Trans Labrador Highway. As well, the province
assumed full responsibility for the Labrador coastal marine services.
Phase I has been completed, and Phase II is scheduled to be completed by
the fall of 2003.
- It was initially recognized that the fund
would not allow for the completion of Phase III of the Trans Labrador
Highway from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Cartwright.
- Following completion of Phase II, as well
as other planned transportation infrastructure, the province will
recognize $97.4 million from the fund as general revenue this year. This
is prudent management, since government�s cost of borrowing will
exceed the interest being earned on the fund.
- Government will continue to operate and
maintain Labrador coastal marine services in the same manner it provides
marine services to other parts of the province.
- Government has made a $17 million a year
commitment for six years to build Phase III of the Trans Labrador
Highway. Work is slated to begin following the completion of an
environmental assessment. Government will continue to request the
support of the federal government to fund this and other roads
expenditures in the province.
- A total of $17 million will be spent this
year to continue construction of the Trans Labrador Highway to complete
Phase II from Red Bay to Cartwright.
- A total of $3 million will be spent to
build an access road from the Trans Labrador Highway to Pinsent�s Arm.
- $1.8 million is budgeted to improve roads
in the southern Labrador communities of Port Hope Simpson and
Cartwright, and to finish upgrading roads in Charlottetown and Mary�s
Harbour.
- $300,000 will be spent to finish upgrading
roads in Rigolet, and $500,000 has been put aside for continued
resurfacing of the North West River Road.
- $394,000 in new funding for winter
maintenance on newly-opened sections of the Trans-Labrador Highway
between Port Hope Simpson and Cartwright has been committed, bringing
the total expenditure on summer and winter maintenance on Phase I and
Phase II to $4.5 million.
- An additional $100,000 will be provided
for snowmobile trail grants.
Additional budget items include:
- Funding to renovate the Provincial Court
in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to include a second courtroom and
accommodations for Prosecutions, Victim Services and Probation Services;
- Proposals will be called for a new
building to house the Supreme Court in Happy Valley-Goose Bay;
- $700,000 for Access North � Labrador
2002 celebrations;
- $3 million for housing initiatives under
the North Coast Strategic Initiative;
- The creation of 2.5 positions with the
Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Department of Labour in
Labrador West;
- An additional $250,000 for the Transition
House Program, with a significant portion to enhance services in
Labrador West and coastal Labrador. In addition to the enhancements, the
funding will also support training and security at a number of
transition houses in the province, including Libra House in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay, the Family Crisis Shelter in Labrador City and the
Nain Women�s Shelter;
- The creation of an Environmental Health
Officer position within the Department of Health and Community Services,
to be shared by Health Labrador Corporation and Grenfell Regional Health
Services;
- Funding to provide a Mini-picture
Archiving and Communications System (PACS) for Health Labrador
Corporation, allowing for more expedient diagnosis in the region;
- $800,000 for incentive bonuses to attract
teachers to coastal Labrador communities will be maintained;
- Funding for the Aboriginal Cadet
Development Program, which would see Aboriginal youth receive skills
upgrading as preparation for RCMP training;
- Funding for the Labrador Straits Visitor
Information Centre, to expand its focus to encompass the broader tourism
region of coastal Labrador;
- Through cost-shared federal funding, the
Gateway Labrador project is being developed in Labrador West; and
- $427,000 for the Labrador Travel Subsidy
will be maintained.
Media contact: Bert Pomeroy, Communications,
(709) 896-8668.
2002 03
21 3:20
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