Supporting, Sustaining and Investing in a Diverse Provincial Economy

  • Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

January 2, 2018

The Provincial Government continues to support a vibrant, diverse and sustainable economy. Over the last year, the Department of Tourism, Culture Industry and Innovation has worked with prosperous and culturally-rich communities to enhance productivity and competitiveness, as well as innovative companies which contribute to a dynamic, thriving and competitive technology industry. Innovation in all sectors will continue to play a critical role in advancing a stronger, more diversified economy in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Growing the tourism industry:

  • An initiative of The Way Forward, the 2017-20 Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan, released earlier this year, provided an outline for creating a strong business environment for private tourism investment. This plan also focused on utilizing public resources in product development areas to provide the greatest return on investment through increased visitation and spending.
  • The Provincial Government continued to invest in tourism marketing, developing creative award-winning marketing campaigns and a new responsive website highlighting our natural and cultural experiences.
  • As a result of feedback from users, Marble Mountain implemented several changes for the upcoming 2018 ski season intended to increase participation, bring ticket prices on par with other Atlantic Canadian ski resorts and offer more events at the hill.
  • Labrador was recently named to National Geographic Traveler magazine’s Best of the World list, which highlights 21 must-see destinations to visit in 2018. Labrador was chosen because of its Aboriginal peoples’ involvement in Akami- Uapishkᵁ -KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve.

Supporting culture and heritage:

  • In recognition of the important role artists play in contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of the province, the Status of the Artist Act was introduced. Status of the Artist will enhance the recognition and support of professional artists, as well as ensure fair compensation.
  • Accolades and achievements for Come From Away continued to grow this year. Along with a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical, Come From Away also earned a nomination for the upcoming Grammy Awards for Best Musical Theatre Album. In addition to grossing the highest eight-show week in the history of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York, earning just over $1.52 million, Come From Away is also in the very early stages of film adaptation.
  • The St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. Newfoundland and Labrador’s traditional landscape has been cultivated through song, music, dance and theatre, and the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre continues to play an integral role in sustaining, preserving and enhancing this unique cultural identity. In December, $3.3 million was announced by the federal and provincial governments for upgrades and specialized equipment for the six arts and culture centres in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Heart’s Content Cable Station Provincial Historic Site was announced as one of eight new sites added to Canada’s Tentative List for World Heritage, as part of a trans-boundary nomination with Valentia, Ireland.

Supporting Business Growth and Innovation:

  • The Business Innovation Agenda was launched in November, reflecting input from the drivers of the provincial economy – business, industry and academia – and focused on four priority areas: product development and commercialization; productivity; growth and internationalization; and workforce skills and talent. The goal of the agenda is to expand the pool and capacity of innovation and growth-focused businesses that compose Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic wealth generators.
  • In July, the Provincial Government announced the next step in its approach to fostering greater innovation and accelerating business growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. InnovateNL, is a single-window for the delivery of provincial innovation programs and services to clients in a seamless, more efficient manner.
  • A Regional Trade Network was established, giving trade and export development stakeholders the ability to collaborate, align, coordinate and improve support for firms pursuing international business. This network will offer a more coordinated approach to providing international business development services, and assist in the retention and growth of Newfoundland and Labrador companies.
  • An agreement was reached with Canopy Growth Corporation for the supply and production of cannabis in the province. As result of this agreement, the province has secured a supply of up to 8,000 kg of cannabis and cannabis-related product annually. In addition, Canopy has committed to build a production facility in the province, resulting in the creation of 145 new jobs.
  • The Provincial Government assisted with the re-activation of the St. Lawrence fluorspar mine with a $17 million repayable loan to Canada Fluorspar Inc. Newfoundland and Labrador. This financial support helped to diversify the economy, and strengthen rural development, while creating upwards of 1,000 person years of employment in the construction phase. In addition, approximately 3,000 person years of employment in mining and milling is anticipated throughout the first 12 operating years

This past year also saw the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) come into force. These agreements are designed to reduce barriers to trade, open new markets for businesses, increase choice for consumers, and create opportunities for economic growth and diversification.

Key partnerships were strengthened this past year. A summary was released regarding the engagement process to support social enterprise development in Newfoundland and Labrador. As committed in The Way Forward, the Provincial Government is working to increase the number of social enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador and to enhancing services for existing social enterprises. Work will continue in 2018 on the development of a Social Enterprise Action Plan.

The Provincial Government and the Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives signed a new five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU renews a working relationship between both partners and focuses on the engagement of more department staff in co-op development. It also encourages opportunities for co-ops and credit unions to become more engaged in the development of new co-op initiatives in their communities, placing a greater emphasis on targeted research and opportunity identification in sectors with high potential for co-op development.

Quotes
“In 2017, our government delivered on its commitment of diversification, growth and sustainability. We focused our effort on creating conditions that enabled the province’s innovation-driven businesses to nurture and diversify. By providing these necessary supports, our government helped to create and foster an environment where entrepreneurship and innovation is able to flourish in our province. The Way Forward guides our actions, as we aim to position our province as a competitive place to live, work, do business and raise a family.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation

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Learn More
Newfoundland Labrador Tourism – NewfoundlandLabrador.com

Experiences, Culture, and People Energize Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/0501n02.aspx

Minister Mitchelmore Commends Marble Mountain on Changes for 2018 Ski Season – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/0929n02.aspx

Labrador Recognized as Best of the World Destination in 2018 by National Geographic Traveler – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/1128n02.aspx

Provincial Government to Implement Status of the Artist Legislation – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/1121n02.aspx

Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada Invest Over $3 million in Arts and Culture Centres – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/1221n06.aspx

Heart’s Content Cable Station Provincial Historic Site Added to Canada’s Tentative List for World Heritage – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/1220n09.aspx

Provincial Government Launches Business Innovation Agenda – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/1108n02.aspx

Provincial Government Announces Creation of InnovateNL – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/0720n02.aspx

Provincial Government Establishes Regional Trade Network – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/1020n01.aspx

Provincial Government Enters Into Agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation on Supply and Production of Cannabis – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/1208n01.aspx

Premier Ball Welcomes Reopening of Fluorspar Mine – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/0805n01.aspx

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Now in Effect – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/0921n01.aspx

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Joins Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments to Release the Canadian Free Trade Agreement – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/0407n04.aspx

Supporting Social Enterprise Development – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/1130n04.aspx

Provincial Government Signs New Partnership Agreement with Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives – gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/btcrd/1005n06.aspx

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @TCII_GovNL 

Media contact
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca

2018 01 02 2:30 pm