Today, the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, revealed the next phase of The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. This new phase of actions focuses on improving services and outcomes for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, while building on prior work to deliver a stronger economic foundation, and achieve a more efficient public sector.
An example of the initiatives aimed at improving services is the launch of a five-year plan to make government services “digital-by-design.” The plan outlines a future-state, digital platform through which all connections with government are integrated, allowing residents to access services, information, and transactions when and how they want.
New actions aimed at achieving better outcomes for residents include supports for persons with dementia and autism, and their caregivers. This will involve enhancing access to community-based dementia care and support, which will reduce emergency department visits, hospitalizations and premature long-term care placement.
With respect to promoting greater efficiency, the Provincial Government will review the $4.3 billion of assets it owns and maintains to identify any opportunities that can be readily pursued by divesting or repurposing to achieve the best economic, social, and financial return. While those immediate opportunities are pursued, the Provincial Government will also develop an asset management framework to ensure departments apply a consistent approach to determining how to derive maximum value from assets.
Unprecedented partnerships and collaboration with the business sector will continue this year as the Provincial Government will partner with the mining, forestry, and community sectors to generate new economic activity and foster job creation. This work will follow the new model of engagement established last year with the province’s aquaculture, agriculture, and technology sectors. Additionally, the Provincial Government will pursue a diversity in leadership initiative this year to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the province.
Details regarding all new actions in this new phase of The Way Forward, along with status updates on the progress of all previously announced actions can be found at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
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“In 2016, amid unprecedented challenges, our government established our vision for the future of Newfoundland and Labrador: that together we will achieve a strong diversified province with a high standard of living. At the heart of that vision is partnership, and in 2018 we will continue to collaborate with industry, culture, and community leaders and the residents to deliver better programs, achieve better outcomes, create employment and economic growth, and restore fiscal balance in a responsible, sustainable manner.”
Honourable Dwight Ball
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
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Michelle Cannizzaro
Office of the Premier
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