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Jim Bennett, Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador, says
the provincial government is shortchanging the people of many parts of rural
Newfoundland and Labrador and unfortunately, depopulation of these areas is
rapidly becoming the bitter legacy of the Williams’ government. The Burin
Peninsula, for example, is reeling from an economic downturn created by the
closure of the fish plant in Fortune and is facing one of its greatest
economic challenges. Still, the government lacks the will or creativity to
save this region and outmigration has become a daily ritual.
"This government should be showing more support to the people of the
Burin Peninsula instead of providing what amounts to lip service to their
plight," says Bennett. "Incredibly, they refuse to enforce the FPI Act.
Corporate shareholders appear more important to the premier than the people
of Newfoundland and Labrador. The FPI Act should immediately be enforced to
protect the people but this government simply refuses to do anything.
"It makes one wonder if the premier and his government truly recognize
and appreciate the seriousness of the devastation that is happening on the
Burin Peninsula and in other areas of the province where rural neglect has
gone beyond economic devastation to a desolation of community spirit.
"Ironically, the premier goes blue in the face stating that no giveaways
of resources will happen during his reign, yet we have fish sent outside
this province while plants sit idle. Clearly, he does not value our
renewable resources as he does our non-renewable ones such as oil and gas,
and his economic agenda has failed to include rural areas or ordinary
people.
"People are asking whether the premier’s complete failure in rural
Newfoundland and Labrador results from gross incompetence or is part of a
cruel and deliberate resettlement policy."
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