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Judy Foote, Opposition critic for the Department of Innovation, Trade and
Rural Development and MHA for the District of Grand Bank, is questioning the
future of the Regional Economic Development Boards (REDBs) in the province
in light of today’s announcement by Minister Dunderdale establishing nine
regional councils and one provincial council for rural areas of the
province. "I question whether the establishment of these new regional
councils means the end of the REDBs in the province," said Ms. Foote. "It
certainly appears that these new councils will be doing the same job as the
REDBs. Today’s announcement means either a duplication of services and an
extra layer of bureaucracy or the elimination of REDBs in the province. It
is interesting to note that there is no mention of the REDBs in the
minister’s press release. This is telling indeed. How can you talk about
regional economic development and the need to include those involved without
mentioning the province’s REDBs and the hundreds of volunteers who have
worked tirelessly trying to make a difference unless, of course, their time
is limited?
"It should be blatantly obvious to everyone that the current government
has no plan for economic development in the rural areas of our province as
promised during the election. They are in the second year of their mandate
and are now recycling an idea that has been around for years. Regional
Economic Development Boards were introduced to serve the same purpose as
these new regional councils. What the minister announced today is an
approach that has been in place for several years and being carried out by
the REDBs. So much for a new approach and a new vision as promised by the
government when looking to get elected during the last provincial election.
Minister Dunderdale has taken an existing approach to economic development
and packaged it as a new initiative for rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
"Today’s announcement will only raise more uncertainty for rural
communities in the province. How long will REDBs exist after these councils
are established? If they continue to exist, why duplicate their mandate with
the establishment of nine regional councils at additional cost to the
taxpayer? Given the situation that exists in the rural areas of this
province, government should have already implemented the plan it boasted
about during the election and now be working with the REDBs and other
community leaders throughout our province. Unfortunately, there remains no
concrete plan for rural development and, contrary to their claim to have a
vision, this government has failed miserably to date to help develop any new
and unique initiatives for development opportunities."
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