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Liberal Opposition Critic for Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development and MHA for the District of Grand Bank, Judy Foote,
says her recent critique of government’s lack of progress on
rural economic development sparked an interesting response from
the minister. He insists the government is moving forward but
now, after three years in office, adds "it is going to take
time". This is quite different from the same government that
campaigned on a promise of a vision for rural Newfoundland and
Labrador.
Such a response does very little for those areas of the
province that have been experiencing real hardship," says Foote.
"It also highlights a government clearly not up to the task of
building strong rural economies."
"The Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development can
try and defend government’s action to date, and try to convince
people that this government is committed to seeing growth in
rural Newfoundland and Labrador, but Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians are wise to this all-talk-and-no-action approach by
now. The fact of the matter is that this government, despite
campaigning on a strategy to bring new ideas and initiatives to
rural parts of the province, has little to show in the way of
success since it was elected in 2003. This is particularly
obvious with respect to rural issues, including those that
affect the fishery and hard-hit communities such as
Stephenville, Harbour Breton and Fortune. They have raised false
hope and then stood back and simply waited for things to fall
into place. Unfortunately, the people affected are still waiting
for things to fall into place.
"This government was elected on its promise that it had a
rural revitalization plan ready to roll out. Now, as they near
the end of their mandate, all we hear from this government is
that they are "moving forward" on initiatives and that it is
going to take time. The only thing moving are those who have
lost hope here in the province and are relocating to other
regions of the country.
"The future of rural Newfoundland and Labrador has never been
more fragile, and this government has to start taking
responsibility for this unprecedented decline in the regions.
How long does this government expect people to wait to see
progress and the social and economic benefits needed to secure
the future of their communities? It’s time for this government
to acknowledge what is happening and be upfront and admit that
they are not up to the challenge of helping to create
opportunities that are so badly needed and as promised on the
election trail."
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