NLIS 10
November 14, 2005
(Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs)
Fuel problems in
Rigolet being addressed
Tom Rideout, Minister responsible for
Aboriginal Affairs, today said the fuel situation in Rigolet is
being addressed.
Minister Rideout said: �Rigolet has been facing a difficult
situation with the possibility of running out of fuel over the
winter. I am pleased to say that we have worked together with the
Labrador Inuit Association (LIA) to put arrangements in place to
have heating oil and other fuels delivered before winter sets in.�
A gas spill in the community in December 2000 led to the closure of
a privately-operated station. Since this time, the town council in
Rigolet operated a gas and fuel supply operation. This continued
until recently. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the
LIA made arrangements for a tanker to top up their fuel supply.
�Our government has undertaken to provide a loan guarantee so that
the Labrador Inuit Development Corporation, the business arm of the
LIA, can operate the service until another operator can be found,�
said Minister Rideout. �We are committed to ensuring communities
throughout Labrador have access to fuel.�
�Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tom Rideout and his officials were
exceptionally cooperative,� said Tony Andersen, vice president of
the LIA. �The Labrador Inuit Development Corporation has purchased
the existing tanks to operate the retail business.�
Paul Shelley, Minister responsible for Labrador Affairs was also
involved in the efforts to develop a solution to the Rigolet fuel
issue. �I am extremely pleased that a joint effort of the provincial
government and the Labrador Inuit Association, in consultation with
the Town of Rigolet, has resulted in a solution to the gasoline and
fuel retail problems in the community,� said Minister Shelley. �We
are hopeful that this solution will provide a sense of stability and
security to the community.�
Minister Rideout said: �The retail gas and heating fuel situation in
Rigolet was a very complex issue and finding the solution took a lot
of creativity and teamwork. This is tremendous news for the
residents of Rigolet, and we are delighted that this new one time
arrangement will help address the fuel and home heating needs of the
community through the winter and into June.�
Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3733,
690-8403
2005 11 14
3:00 p.m. |