Executive Council
Environment and Conservation

October 3, 2008

Federal Presence in Province Takes Another Hit

The Provincial Government is once again dealing with the removal of an important decision-making position in the Federal Government system under the Harper administration. Environment Canada has reportedly undergone a reorganization which has resulted in Newfoundland and Labrador losing a district manager position in Mount Pearl. This continues the disturbing trend of removing executive and other federal positions from the province, further diminishing the province�s ability to influence the development of federal policies and programs.

"Increasing federal presence is not just about increasing jobs," said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs. "It is also about increasing the level of federal decision-making occurring in this province to ensure our unique challenges and opportunities are duly considered in the development of federal policies, and ensuring commitments made by the Federal Government are fulfilled. This move by Environment Canada further diminishes the already low number of federal decision-making positions in Newfoundland and Labrador."

"It is essential that we have a meaningful local presence of our federal counterpart to facilitate important environmental decisions and processes," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "Removing a position like this one from the province will certainly hinder the effectiveness of our collaborative efforts in making sound environmental decisions that affect the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. I am very disappointed in this counterproductive move."

On September 9, Premier Williams wrote letters to the Conservative, Liberal and NDP federal leaders to request their positions on policies important to Newfoundland and Labrador. NDP Leader Jack Layton�s response, dated September 16, stated that the NDP "recognize the need for greater fairness in the distribution of federal jobs throughout the country and also recognize the economic importance of such a presence," and "re-affirm our commitment to working with your province to ensure fairness and full access to federal government program delivery and services in this province."

Liberal Leader St�phane Dion�s reply, dated October 2, stated, "It is of ever greater importance to ensure that Canadians from all regions and provinces are involved in the decision-making process if we are to offer our citizens a truly representative government. There is also no reason to continue to place all new agencies and offices in Ottawa as a default." Mr. Dion committed to "work to place the National Ice Centre in Gander which would complement the work of the Marine Centre in St. John�s."

According to a study done by Memorial University Harris Centre, there is evidence of a disproportional decrease in federal presence in Newfoundland and Labrador. The number of executive positions in the province has been well below one per cent of the total number of such positions in Canada since 1997. The trend appears to be that as people retire from these positions they are not being filled, resulting in the movement of the decision-making capacity outside of the province.

"In the middle of an election, the removal of this position from the province, along with the lack of a response to Premier Williams� letter by Mr. Harper, proves that this province is going to continue to get ignored," said Minister Hedderson. "I am calling on the candidates from across the province, particularly for St. John�s South-Mount Pearl district, to come forward with their perspective on this position of district manager leaving this province."

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Media contacts:

Lesley Clarke
Communications Specialist
Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat
709-729-6026, 699-2910
lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca
Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca

2008 10 03                                                     10:00 a.m.
 


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