|
 |
PC PARTY BLUEPRINT - 4/10
Strong Economy
Newfoundland and Labrador is blessed with natural resource wealth. Resource riches of this magnitude give us the confidence to believe in a brighter future for our communities. We possess an abundance of wild fish, farmed fish, fresh water, forests, crops, livestock, wildlife, minerals, oil and gas, hydro and wind potential, and so many other resources, many just waiting to be properly utilized. The days of resource giveaways are gone. Sound public sector strategies can and will enhance the attractiveness of these resources to developers and help to nurture and grow both primary and value-added industries. Most of these industries predominate in our rural areas where new opportunities can create a brand new foundation for local economies. Our fisheries - long a vital sector in Newfoundland and Labrador - will continue to receive our focused attention as we work for self-reliance. Already there are numerous success stories in aquaculture, agrifoods, mining and other key sectors, and with the new strategies that we have been busy developing, we intend to produce many more successes and place rural Newfoundland and Labrador on a firm footing for the decades ahead. What our rural towns sincerely want to see is tangible results in industries that promise jobs their residents can rely on. We are busy building solid successes, town by town, sector by sector, in regions throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, because we understand that constant effort is the key to real growth, and real growth is the key to a brighter future in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. Our energy sector is particularly impressive. We are determined, from this day forward, to harness our vast arsenal of energy resources for the principal benefit and long-term self-reliance of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Our Energy Plan balances two objectives - economic self-reliance and environmental sustainability. Under the direction of a new Energy Corporation, wholly owned by the province, we will exploit our energy resources more effectively and creatively to build strong, thriving regions throughout our province. We stand ready to make the most of every development opportunity so that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians today and our children tomorrow will at last enjoy the full benefits of living in a land so rich in resources.
A Progressive Conservative government in its second term will:
for fisheries...
- ensure the fishing industry remains a key pillar of sustainable economic development throughout Newfoundland and Labrador
- provide $2.5 million for Fishing Industry Workforce Adjustment
- continue to press the federal government on the principles of early retirement and licence buyout that would be cost-shared on a 70/30 federal-provincial basis
- continue to pursue opportunities to develop an aquaculture demonstration farm project in collaboration with an industry partner and the Government of Canada
- continue to facilitate growth of the province's growing aquaculture industry through a wide range of programs and collaborative efforts that jointly will make Newfoundland and Labrador a national and international leader in aquaculture and create substantial employment and economic spinoff benefits
- maintain and, if necessary, expand the Aquaculture Working Capital Fund
- enhance the provincial government's expertise in aquaculture science, technology, development and marketing to ensure we fully understand the experiences of other jurisdictions and are ready to take maximum advantage of opportunities in this sector throughout Newfoundland and Labrador
- continue to work aggressively to promote Newfoundland and Labrador's sealing industry and strenuously challenge the efforts of those who work against its success
- invest $5 million a year in the province's research and development Crown corporation and dedicate $1 million of this funding exclusively for oceans research
- pursue a Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries Agreement for a decision-making process in which the federal and provincial governments work in partnership for the sustainable management of the fisheries
- continue to campaign to impose Canadian custodial management of the fisheries resources of the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap, pressing the Government of Canada to follow through on its commitment in this regard
- press to ensure the federal government, in revising the Fisheries Act, continues to recognize the primacy of adjacency in licensing and allocation decisions and ensures Newfoundland and Labrador provincial representation on organizational structures for fisheries management and any co-management agreements with harvesters
- closely monitor the proposed reforms to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization and be vocal and assertive in protecting Canada's jurisdiction inside the 200 mile area
- build on our progress to date in continuing to work with the European Union and other trading bodies to facilitate the fair entry of Newfoundland and Labrador fish products into foreign markets
- continue to implement the Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Cod Recovery Strategy [link] in conjunction with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Memorial University
- continue to implement and adjust as required the Fish Processing Policy Framework in an effort to promote local value-added processing and employment generation in consultation with industry stakeholders
- establish an enhanced fisheries loan guarantee program to facilitate bank financing for those fishers wishing to take advantage of federal licensing policy changes; and increase the maximum loan guarantee from $1.3 million to $2 million
- provide $6 million for fishing industry research and developmental work over the next three years, which will include work associated with the development of new species, new products, new markets and new techniques to harvest, handle, process and market our marine fish resources
- provide $1.5 million for a voluntary fish auction over three years
- provide $750,000 for Occupational Health and Safety initiatives over the next three years
- in coordination with seafood processors and unions, continue to ensure seafood processors have access to appropriate seafood processing training programs with an emphasis on product quality
- through a Newfoundland and Labrador seafood marketing strategy, provide $3 million to enhance market research and promotion efforts over the next three years, including the creation of a Newfoundland and Labrador Seafood Marketing Council, and continue to pursue investment and diversification opportunities in collaboration with the province's fishing industry to expand the range of products we create
for agrifoods...
- continue to implement the province's Agrifoods Strategy
- establish a farm loan guarantee program to provide farming enterprises with access to capital they need to grow
- promote continuing growth and diversification through continued strong investments in the Agriculture and Agrifoods Development Fund
- continue to work with the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Innovation Fund and with outside investors to leverage additional funds to move agrifoods projects forward to commercialization
- cooperate with our agricultural industry to aggressively market the full gamut of homegrown products both locally and in markets beyond Newfoundland and Labrador
- maintain the provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program
- maintain support for the Fruit and Vegetable Storage Program
- continue to provide off-farm access roads and electrical services for agricultural operations
- support research and development initiatives focused on the development of new or improved crops
- explore new value-added opportunities in agriculture and agrifoods production
- continue to support the province's fur industry
for forestry...
- continue to implement the Provincial Sustainable Forest Management Strategy [link]
- complete the Forest Industry Competitiveness and Strategy Study, which is part of a comprehensive review of the province's entire forest industry
- increase the province's capacity to manage the forest resource, to develop forest sector opportunities and to implement the forest sector strategies for Labrador and the island
- in cooperation with our forestry companies, maintain our increased support for silviculture initiatives to replenish our forest resources and secure supply
- implement the Strategic Plan to Develop Labrador Secondary Manufacturing and Value-Added Wood Products Industry [link]
- explore opportunities to attract new industries to the province that can establish synergistic partnerships with local forest industry companies for mutual economic benefit and stability
- maintain our increased support for fire suppression by modernizing the waterbomber fleet
- encourage and support the development of a graduate science program, a policy centre, a sustainable forestry cluster and related project administration at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in association with the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Science, Research and Technology (CEE)
for mining...
- continue to discharge our responsibilities to ensure mineral exploration, mining and mineral processing operations in our province return full and fair benefits to Newfoundland and Labrador
- work to attract secondary and tertiary mineral-based processing and manufacturing operations to Newfoundland and Labrador communities
- maintain our strong investment in the Mineral Incentive Program, cognizant of the fact that every dollar spent under the junior exploration assistance component of the program leverages $3 in private sector investment for grassroots exploration
- continue to invest in improving the collection of geoscience data, which benefits the mineral exploration and onshore petroleum exploration sectors
- in view of the Skills Task Force report, work to strengthen post-secondary programs to train trades and management professionals for the mining industry
- work with the project developers and Aboriginal communities to accelerate the development of underground mining at the Voisey's Bay site
- continue to negotiate a new power rate with the Iron Ore Company of Canada and Wabush Mines in anticipation of the expiry of their current power contract in 2014
- work with developers to promote further local processing of imported mineral resources, building on the success of the gold processing operation at Nugget Pond
- explore opportunities to develop the province's uranium resources
- work with mining industry communities to understand and address environmental issues associated with industry activities
for energy...
- implement Newfoundland and Labrador's first-ever comprehensive Energy Plan [link] under the direction of a new Energy Corporation, establishing our province as an energy warehouse in eastern North America and taking maximum advantage of all opportunities including those associated with Churchill power development, wind power development, Hebron development, offshore and onshore exploration and development, and value-added activities
- continue to seek jurisdictional ownership and effective control of petroleum and other resources in waters adjacent to Newfoundland and Labrador
- continue to press the Government of Canada to enact fallow field-type legislation to require offshore lease holders to proceed to development within an established time frame or relinquish the holding so other developers may bid
- work with communities on the west, south and north coasts and the regions of Labrador to ensure they are prepared to take maximum advantage of opportunities and reap economic and employment benefits associated with the exploration and development of petroleum resources in the Laurentian, Orphan and Labrador basins in ways that eastern regions have benefitted from ongoing projects, particularly in supply and services
|
|
|
|
|
