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PC PARTY BLUEPRINT - 8/10
Strong Culture
No resource is of greater value to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians than our distinctive culture. Our artists provide the mirror through which we see ourselves as we really are: unique, irrepressible and unforgettable. To support our artists and enrich our people, our government unveiled our province's first Strategic Cultural Plan. We introduced a fine arts and culture strategy in our classrooms and a new Artists in Schools Program to benefit our students. We celebrated our province's Aboriginal cultures by working with Aboriginal communities to develop culturally-relevant curriculum beginning with social studies and art. We set our sights on opportunities abroad where our artists' distinctive voices and styles are capturing attention as never before. We will continue to move ahead progressively to recognize and advance our cultural sector, both to generate important economic opportunities and - of no less importance - to foster a strong sense of identity, pride and self-confidence.
We take great pride and joy in welcoming guests to our home. Travelers come here as strangers and leave as friends. We have rolled out the welcome mat time and again, yet it is only in recent years that we have begun to realize the tremendous economic potential we have here in Newfoundland and Labrador to establish a world-class tourism industry spanning all seasons and catering to a broad range of niche markets. Many of our own people have much to discover in coves and communities right here at home. Much has been done and much more can and will be done to ensure we are ready to market our strengths abroad and seize new and greater opportunities in a sector with open-ended economic growth potential.
Among our greatest sources of pride is our clean and beautiful natural environment. It defines us. It makes living here wonderful. It makes visiting here unforgettable. Our natural ecosystems are worth protecting for future generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. They have intrinsic value, but also immense economic value. Through our Centre of Excellence for Environmental Science, Research and Technology, we will pursue opportunities to harness our environmental strengths and ingenuity to generate valuable economic activity and research opportunities. Through our new Sustainable Development Act, we will ensure that development proceeds in harmony with our natural environment, securing our greatest natural strengths while promoting eco-friendly enterprise. Through our energy plan and sound investments in other environmentally-friendly policies, we will address our environmental challenges in ways that will preserve our natural treasures and promote a healthier planet for everyone.
A Progressive Conservative government in its second term will:
- continue to foster pride in Newfoundland and Labrador's diverse, dynamic and distinct cultural heritage
- continue to implement the province's new Strategic Cultural Plan [link] to support our vibrant artistic community, recognize cultural and economic contributions, and offer stable working conditions to professional artists through public and private support
- continue to enhance Newfoundland and Labrador history and cultural education in our schools to help our people discover, celebrate and learn from our rich cultural heritage
- continue to support the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council in their provision of programs and services to artists and cultural organizations
- increase the province's presence and visibility to the world in the cultural sphere by supporting and investing in cultural industries
- preserve our distinctive tangible and intangible cultural heritage through the establishment of a Heritage Framework which will define the principles, guidelines and priorities for heritage conservation and development in the province
- engage Aboriginal people in the development of an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Strategy to preserve, strengthen and celebrate their distinctive and intangible cultural heritage
- continue to support The Rooms Corporation in their mandate to acquire and preserve historic artifacts, historic articles, museum treasures and cultural properties as well as to make these accessible to the people through outreach services and education
- support local artists in seeking various federal targeted grants
- invest in new acquisitions for public libraries, literature and software acquisition, and internet access
- develop and implement a strategy to support a New Media Industry to allow this province to exploit a media environment that has been transformed by advancements in digital technology and computing, especially in products such as video games, electronic kiosks and podcast
- further enhance the tourism web site by creating a hyperlinked map-based portal connecting all municipalities in the province and providing extensive information on tourism opportunities, including local photos, accommodations, events, tourism operators, retailers and councils
- continue to improve tourism resource materials based on consultation with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador and the advisory board, tourism operators and tourists, and implement measures to ensure the information is reviewed for maximum accuracy
- having nearly doubled the province's tourism marketing funding from $6 million to $11 million since 2003, continue to increase tourism marketing investments by at least $1 million a year, ensuring they match or exceed the investments by the Maritime provinces
- continue to encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to explore our own province by promoting diverse opportunities in communities and regions throughout the province, increasing our "No Place Like Home" resident tourism promotion budget
- continue to improve provincial parks and campgrounds, in consultation with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador
- proceed with preparations for a world-class celebration at Cupids in 2010 of the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the colony of Cupers Cove by John Guy, and the Captain Robert Bartlett celebration in 2009
- continue to work toward the development of a year-round tourism industry to provide sustainable employment opportunities, including a winter tourism strategy
- follow through in implementing a cultural tourism strategy
- having uncovered numerous sites of historic interest, continue to work with The Rooms and Memorial University to preserve and interpret the province's archeological sites
- continue to partner with the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association in following up on consultations to advance and diversify the outfitting industry
- continue to work with the cruise ship industry to build cruise ship opportunities
- establish a $2-million Green Fund to support initiatives promoting environmental sustainability
- enforce the provisions of the Sustainable Development Act regarding the responsible and sustainable development of our natural environment, ensuring that our resource development decisions address the full range of environmental, social and economic values and that workers, environmentalists, industry, communities, aboriginal peoples and others have a say in how our resources are managed
- support environmentally-focused research and development
- under the CEE initiative, encourage and support the development of a new geomatics advanced diploma program at the College of the North Atlantic campus at Corner Brook and support its existing geospatial research facility
- within the context of the province's new R&D Strategy, continue to expand the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Science to ensure it will play a greater role in focusing international research capacity on issues of importance to Newfoundland and Labrador and promoting our province as a natural laboratory
- address environmental concerns related to Holyrood by either: (a) replacing Holyrood generation with electricity from the Lower Churchill through a transmission link to the Island; or (b) installing scrubbers and precipitators, and maximizing the use of wind, small hydro and energy efficiency programs, to reduce reliance on Holyrood
- in the context of the province's new Energy Plan [link], promote the development of alternative green energy sources, including hydro power, wind power and solar power
- establish an Energy Conservation and Efficiency Partnership with an initial $5 million grant to develop, by March 2008, a coordinated and prioritized five-year Energy Conservation and Efficiency Plan
- allocate $500,000 to provide grants of up to $250 to homeowners for pre and post retrofit residential energy audits
- allocate $6.9 million over three years to the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation to fund an energy efficiency and conservation program for low-income homeowners
- support the updating of Canada's Model National Energy Codes for Houses and Buildings and working towards the legislation of these standards by 2011
- in the context of the province's new Energy Plan, ensure provincial government buildings are more environmentally friendly
- strive to implement a policy that starting in 2008, where appropriate, all new buildings and major renovations receiving funding from the provincial government or built by provincial government corporations or agencies exceed the current Model National Energy Code by 25% and, where possible, also qualify for a minimum Silver standard in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program
- ensure reduced energy costs from efficiency measures beyond the commitment on Energy Codes are considered against any increased capital cost in new public sector buildings and major renovations
- adopt a policy that 25% of all new government car and SUV purchases during 2008-2011 period will be energy efficient vehicles
- continue to implement other conservation initiatives as outlined in the Climate Change Action Plan [link]
- expand the mandate of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board to promote a wider range of environmentally-responsible behaviours by government, citizens and business
- eliminate all teepee-style incinerators and replace them with other waste management approaches in accordance with the provincial waste management strategy
- promote locally-based environmental industries and services
- maintain support for projects initiated under the November 2005 Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, a federal-provincial agreement to invest in infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador communities, at least 60% of which are "green" projects that improve the quality of the environment and contribute to cleaner air, soil and water, including water, waste water, solid waste, public transit and environmental energy improvements
- develop a Comprehensive Land Use Management Strategy that takes into account sustainable development, climate change adaptation, hazard prediction and preparedness, and economic development
- finalize a Natural Areas System Plan which identifies areas of the province that, following appropriate consultations, may be designated as protected natural areas and reserves
- enhance data collection, assessment and management of wildlife resources
- work to harmonize the federal and provincial environmental assessment processes
- develop a comprehensive environmental protection strategy for Placentia Bay and further enhance safeguards and early response measures to minimize damage to the region's valuable fish habitats and fishing economy of potential incidents associated with increased petroleum sector activity
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