Environment and Conservation
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
November 5, 2009
New Positions Will Help Manage Crown Land
Resources
Two new positions have been created in
Grand Falls-Windsor to help the province effectively
manage lands that were formerly owned by AbitibiBowater.
A Crown lands management officer and a Crown lands
management specialist will assist with inspections and
other related management aspects of the recently
acquired lands.
"Crown land is a valued resource, and
we place great value on our responsibility to the people
of the province to manage it appropriately," said the
Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and
Conservation. "These positions within our Crown lands
division will help us to focus specifically on the lands
that were formerly held by AbitibiBowater, and help us
continue in our overall provincial land management
efforts."
The Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister
of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Chair of
the Ministerial Task Force, said that the Provincial
Government is committed to creating and fostering new
opportunities in the Central Region.
"We continue to work closely with many
community partners to identify opportunities and
priorities in the area, following the closure of the
mill," said Minister Skinner. "We understand the
importance residents place on their land resources, and
the mill�s closure represents a significant impact on
this resource with the land coming back to the Crown.
These positions will certainly help us manage that land
and also contribute to employment in the area."
In December of 2008, the Provincial
Government enacted the Abitibi-Consolidated Rights
and Assets Act which resulted in the repatriation
of Crown lands. With the assistance of the lands
management officer and specialist in Grand
Falls-Windsor, these lands will be integrated into the
provincial Crown lands inventory.
"These positions signify two very
important events for the area � the generation of
employment in the region and a significant portion of
land returning to the Crown," said the Honourable Susan
Sullivan, MHA for Grand Falls-Windsor-Buchans. "I am
very pleased to see that this important land management
exercise will be underway in the area in the near
future."
- 30 -
