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Liberal Opposition Critic for Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development and MHA for the District of Grand Bank, Judy Foote,
says the stark reality that is haunting rural Newfoundland and
Labrador stands in direct contrast to the lip service given by
the current government. The Liberal MHA was reacting to a
statement issued by Minister Tom Rideout that government is
fighting to keep rural Newfoundland and Labrador alive and that
it was moving rural regions along the right path. The minister
addressed a workshop on the future of endangered coastal
communities held in Change Islands, with little to boast about
other than helping the workshop organizers with a small grant.
"The minister can make all the claims he wishes about the
government he is a part of being committed to rural Newfoundland
and Labrador, but he has to know that lip service and paltry
grants cannot pass for the real thing," states Foote. "What we
see continuously from this government is a lot of talk obviously
meant to mask its ineptness in addressing the range of problems
facing our rural regions. If the minister feels that government
is moving along the right path with respect to sustaining rural
regions, then he might want to touch base with those who feel
and know otherwise.
"Ask the people of Stephenville today if they are indeed
moving along the right path with the decommissioning of their
mill, especially after the premier personally promised it would
not happen under his watch. Ask the people of Harbour Breton if
they are on the right path as they still look at an idle
fishplant after government’s promise to reopen it more than a
year ago. Ask the residents of Fortune if they feel looked after
by this government? Ask the thousands that have pulled up stakes
in their communities and moved to other provinces just to feed
their families. Ask the thousands of unemployed in our
communities throughout a province that is tagged with the
highest unemployment rate in the country under this premier’s
leadership. The reality is that this government cannot point to
any job creation in the province as a result of their action.
"The Williams government can talk all they want about their
utmost priority being the sustainability of rural communities,
but there is little or no evidence of this commitment or
follow-through. When it comes to rural economies, the facts are
sinking this government’s warped truth about its own
effectiveness. I once again urge the premier to put in place
solid initiatives to strengthen rural Newfoundland and
Labrador’s ability to rebuild and to secure some type of
optimistic future for the up and coming generation."
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