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Judy Foote, MHA for the District of Grand Bank and Opposition Critic for the
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, today called on
government to focus more attention on rural communities in the province.
In the House of Assembly earlier today, the Minister of Innovation, Trade
and Rural Development, Kathy Dunderdale, read a ministerial statement
concerning a Supplier Development Seminar her department is co-hosting in
St. John’s. The minister also listed other locations where seminars have
been held including Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, and now St.
John’s.
"While these locations are sites where such events should be held, it is
obvious that all these sites are along the Trans Canada Highway," said Ms.
Foote. "I requested that the minister begin looking at organizing events
that move further into rural Newfoundland and Labrador and, as an example,
suggested a Supplier Development Seminar be held in Marystown on the Burin
Peninsula. The department should also be holding such seminars on the
Northern and Bonavista Peninsulas. It is in these areas that the
unemployment rate is the highest in the province and where existing
businesses could benefit from being able to access government contracts.
More work in these areas means more jobs for people in rural Newfoundland
and Labrador and fewer people having to leave to look for work outside of
the province.
"In the first 18 months of this PC Government being in office, over 2700
people have left this province. This is another example of the failure of
this government to focus their efforts on rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
Given the desperate situation that many of the people in our rural
communities currently find themselves in because of the circumstances
surrounding the crab fishery, and the fact that 80 per cent of the jobs that
government has cut from the public service are in rural Newfoundland and
Labrador, it is time for government to bring forward their so-called rural
plan. If this government has a plan for rural Newfoundland and Labrador, it
certainly is not obvious unless it involves relocating people to those
communities that exist along the Trans Canada Highway.
"I also highlighted the importance of ensuring when tenders are written
for government supplies and services, that specifications are written in
such a way that local companies can meet the requirements. I am told by
local companies that too often government tenders for supplies in particular
are given to companies outside of the province. The variety and quality of
products produced in this province should preclude any requirement for
government to go outside of Newfoundland and Labrador to purchase supplies
for government departments and agencies."
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