Executive Council
March 27, 2017
Advancing The Way Forward: Premier Ball Delivers Report Card and Next Phase of Actions
Today the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, delivered a report card on the first phase of initiatives launched last November as part of The Way Forward, and announced a new phase of actions for the coming year.
Phase One, which was titled “Securing Our Footing” and included a six month timeline, has already achieved more than $45 million in annual savings while advancing actions to strengthen the economy, improve services, and achieve better outcomes.
Phase Two is titled “Realizing Our Potential,” and includes new initiatives that focus on private sector job creation and economic growth. Achieving the industry development targets and infrastructure plans that are included in the vision will support approximately 14,000 person years of employment annually in the province.
Examples of initiatives that will improve the economy include:
- Establishing a Cabinet Committee on Jobs;
- Enhancing apprenticeship training opportunities by making flexible online offerings available for plumbers, construction electricians, welders, automotive service technicians, and carpenters;
- Supporting entrepreneurship among youth, women, and new immigrants by providing loans, educational initiatives, and new entrance pathways for immigrant entrepreneurs;
- Focusing government supports on sectors with high growth potential to maximize growth and economic output. High performing firms will be identified based on criteria such as Gross Domestic Product, levels of employment, opportunities for diversification within the firm, and supports to encourage internationalization;
- Providing tailored assistance to specific industries, which will include converting Wooddale Nursery to provide broader support to the agriculture and forestry sectors, collaborating with the tourism industry to create a sense of arrival at all entry points to the province, and developing a new cultural plan;
- Creating an action plan to increase the number of social enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador; and
- Coordinating five Regional Innovation Systems pilot projects to support industrial development in specific regions. This will include pursuing:
- Fisheries and tourism projects in southern Labrador and the Great Northern Peninsula;
- Forestry and agriculture projects in Corner Brook and surrounding areas;
- Aerospace and defence projects in Gander and surrounding areas;
- Industrial technology development projects on the Burin Peninsula with connections to the Clarenville area; and,
- Ocean technology projects in the Avalon region.
As these new economic initiatives are advanced, the Provincial Government will continue existing initiatives aimed at improving services and achieving better outcomes. This includes improving mental health and addictions supports in response to the recently released All Party Committee report, advancing a “Health in All Policies” approach, and improving student engagement and performance through the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes.
More information about new Phase Two initiatives, and the report card for Phase One, can be found at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca/.
Quotes
“In less than six months, actions in The Way Forward have achieved more than $45 million in annual savings while strengthening our economic foundation, improving services, and achieving better outcomes for residents. As we proceed with ‘Realizing Our Potential,’ we will advance even more initiatives that foster economic growth, support new private sector jobs, and position our province as an ideal place to live, work, and do business.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
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Learn More
The Way Forward Website
Media contact:
|
Michelle Cannizzaro Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 Michellecannizzaro@gov.nl.ca |
2017 03 27 11:15 a.m.