Residents of the Town of Little Bay Islands and the Provincial Government are moving forward with the relocation of the community.

One hundred per cent of the permanent residents, who are eligible to relocate, have now signed option agreements for financial relocation assistance. With this support for the Community Relocation Policy, the Provincial Government is now finalizing legal documents that will advance financial assistance to the permanent residents of Little Bay Islands.

The Provincial Government will provide $8.7 million for the relocation that will result in savings of approximately $20 million over 20 years. The town has chosen a relocation date of December 31, 2019. All provincial services will cease shortly after that date. The financial relocation assistance is designed to assist permanent residents with the relocation and access to services in a new community.

The intent of the 2016 Community Relocation Policy is to provide opportunities for timely and transparent consideration of community-initiated, community-driven relocation requests. The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment only reviews requests for relocation from communities in which 90 per cent or more of its residents express a desire to relocate.

Quotes
“We are pleased to assist the residents of Little Bay Islands with their request to relocate and avail of services in a new community. This request was initiated by and has been led by the community. We have worked closely with the residents of Little Bay Islands on this process and are pleased to see it moving forward.”
Honourable Perry Trimper
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment

“I know the decision for residents to relocate did not come easy, and I am thinking of everyone on Little Bay Islands at this time as this process moves forward. I am pleased assistance will be provided as they look to plant new roots around the province and create new memories for themselves and their families.”
Honourable Brian Warr
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and MHA for Baie Verte-Green Bay

– 30 –

Learn more
Information on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Community Relocation Policy

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @MAE_GovNL

Media contacts
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

Kathleen Hynes
Constituency Assistant to the MHA for Baie Verte-Green Bay
709-673-3654
kathleenhynes@gov.nl.ca