The exchange is the House of Assembly is listed here.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Bank.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS FOOTE: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS FOOTE: In terms of working with the federal government, Minister, to bring about economic development in our Province, I ask that, since we are now in the middle of a federal election, and since this is the last year for a Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement, which is 70 per cent funded by the federal government, has she pursued with the government an alternative to CEDA? Have you, in fact, put forward a proposal to the federal government that would see a replacement for badly needed federal dollars come to this Province for economic development?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we have made representation to the federal government to revisit the CEDA funding. Unfortunately, we have not been able, at this point in time, to change their minds on that. We continue that representation. We wish to be a partner at the table once more, Mr. Speaker, rather than a stakeholder, and we are working with the officials at the official level, and also with the Prime Minister and the caucus to change our position.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Bank.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS FOOTE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I wish the minister all the luck in the world, because we certainly need more federal money in terms of economic development in this Province; however -

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS FOOTE: - I am a bit skeptical, given our experience in the past in terms of reaching any kind of a further agreement such as CEDA. In fact, when we were the government, we put forward a different alternative and that was the Canada-Newfoundland Economic Development Board. I am wondering if the minister has pursued anything along those lines?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are reviewing all options with the federal government. Indications are that our representations are being well-received. The message that we are getting, loud and clear, is that, now that we have an Administration that is prepared to get our own fiscal house in order, they are more than prepared to come halfway to meet us. We look forward to that, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Grand Bank.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS FOOTE: Once again, Mr. Speaker, I wish the minister all the luck in the world; but, again, I will remain skeptical on that one.

I am just wondering about another serious question with respect to rural development, Minister, and that has to do with the Regional Economic Development Boards. I am wondering if, in fact, the federal government has committed the funding to carry on with those boards. You know they are 70 per cent funded, so I am wondering if they have committed to that, if you are committed to that, and your government, or, in fact, are you looking at reducing them the way that you have done the school boards in the Province, even though we know that the funding for the Regional Economic Development Boards is 70 per cent funded by the feds?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MS DUNDERDALE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is no reduction in funding to Regional Economic Development Boards in this year’’s Budget, and this government remains committed to regional economic development with the boards. We are working with the boards throughout the Province to strengthen our partnership and to find ways to work better together to make regional economic development happen more productively right across the Province.