Backgrounder
Comprehensive Regional Diversification Strategy
Labrador

Regional Profile¹
Number of Communities: 35, including Labrador City, Churchill Falls, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Port Hope Simpson, Black Tickle, Makkovik and Natuashish

Population: 27,860 in 2001 (20,245 in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area and Labrador West combined)

Top Three Industries by Employment Level, 2000: Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction, Retail Trade, Health Care and Social Assistance

Total Number of Businesses, 2003: 924 businesses with the top three industries being Retail Trade, Health Care and Social Assistance, and Other Services (except Public Administration)

Strategic Sectors
Regional Priority Sectors: Mining and Energy, Aerospace, Agrifoods and Fishery, Forestry, Tourism and Information Technology

Industrial Diversification Opportunities - Examples
Mining and Energy:

• Mining Technology Center in Labrador City

• Voisey's Bay Project

• Howell's River iron ore deposit

• Iron titanium-garnet and zircon deposit in Churchill River

• Development of Lower Churchill

• Silica Smelter in Labrador City

• Garnet sand resource at Hutton Beach

Aerospace:

• Development of 5-Wing Goose Bay

Agrifoods and Fishery:

• Nutraceuticals and functional foods from L'Anse au Clair to Cartwright

• Fur breeding in central and coastal Labrador

• Native berry production in Labrador Straits

• Potato farming in central Labrador and Labrador Straits

• Value-added secondary processing of underutilized species in coastal Labrador

• Seal processing in coastal Labrador

• Utilization of crab shells in coastal Labrador

• Green manure and grain development in central Labrador

• Christmas tree production

Forestry:

• Secondary wood processing opportunities in central and southeastern Labrador

• Pulp wood landing site in Port Hope Simpson

Tourism:

• Marketing the region through Destination Labrador

• Tourism infrastructure in North West River

• Inuit arts and crafts in northern Labrador

• Tourism development based on Aboriginal culture throughout the region

• Artisans and craft producers in northern Labrador

• Gateway to Labrador development in L'Anse au Clair

• Trans-Labrador Highway development

• Mealy Mountains National Park development

• Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve development

Information Technology:

• Labrador broadband initiative throughout the region

¹ Source: Community Accounts