"This week, pink slips were handed out to hundreds of people working in rural Newfoundland and Labrador," said Foote. "Offices were downgraded and closed, services discontinued and dedicated public employees told to go home. The presence of government jobs in rural communities was stripped away through the actions of this right wing government.

"The government continues to downplay the importance of regional offices and front line services that have been provided by government. The services, salaries and economic prosperity associated with highway depots, social services offices, driver examiners and other government presence in these communities cannot be easily replaced like the government has suggested."

A report in the Globe and Mail this week already stated that economic growth will slow in this province over the next year or two. "I suspect the actions of the government will make matters even worse. I asked the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural development about the impact these cuts will have on the economy of the province and these rural communities and she fails to see a problem. If the Minister has traveled outside the overpass, she has done so blindly."

In the Blue Book, the PC Party provided a detailed breakdown of their commitment to regional economic development and rural revitalization. "If this is any indication of how government plans to revitalize rural Newfoundland and Labrador, it will be a long four years until the tide changes back to a Liberal government with a heart for people."