NEWS RELEASE

                                                                                       Office of the Official Opposition

June 24, 2010
For Immediate Release

Opposition Leader to meet with municipal officials and plant workers in Jackson’s Arm

Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones will be at the town hall in Jackson’s Arm tomorrow, June 25th, to discuss issues facing the region and the impact the closure of the community’s shrimp plant will have on displaced workers in the area. The meetings are scheduled to start at 1:30pm.

“I look forward to meeting with the mayors from the region, municipal officials, plant workers and FFAW representatives to listen to their issues and how we can address them in the coming weeks and months,” said Ms. Jones. “There are 120 plant workers affected and it is very important that we develop options to help them through this difficult time. While government is not willing to provide anything more than make-work jobs later this fall, communities like Jackson’s Arm are struggling now. The minister continues to hang his hat on the MOU process, but it is still unclear what this will do to help displaced workers. More needs to be done and I am hopeful that these meetings will result in options being presented.”

Jones says the issue of Jackson’s Arm has been raised a number of times in the House of Assembly during the past several weeks, however, no substantial commitments of assistance have been given by government.

“Many of the workers experienced a shortened season last year and will run out of their Employment benefits as early as July and August. Community Enhancement or make-work projects will not be available until the fall and many of these people will be left without any income for a period of time. Unless government reacts more quickly to these situations, affected residents will be forced to move away from their rural communities in search of work. This will be a disastrous consequence for rural Newfoundland and Labrador.”

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Media Contact: 
Darrell Mercer
Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
Tel: (709) 729-6151 or (709) 687-0477