Judy Foote, MHA for the District of Grand Bank and Opposition Critic for the Departments of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Business, says that by using a call centre in Quebec  to handle campsite bookings at provincial parks, government missed another opportunity to create jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The Liberal Opposition has been questioning government in the House of Assembly on this ill‑advised move in recent weeks, particularly as it was an opportunity for government to boost the  workforce  in the province.  The government has entered in a five year contract with a Montreal company to take reservations from those using our provincial parks.  "Such a move ignores the plight of our students who desperately need employment during the summer to help offset the costs of their post secondary education. Apart from our students, there are many others looking for work in our province as well who could have benefitted from this opportunity, says Foote. A What is particularly irritating is that I understand government sent people to Quebec to familiarize the employees of the call centre with our provincial parks which would have been unnecessary if the employees were from Newfoundland and Labrador. 

"Given that this province is losing people on a daily basis to out‑migration because of a lack of employment opportunities throughout the province, government could have and should have done the right thing and had this reservation system set up in our own province.  It is rather ironic that the same week the contract was announced  government was talking about recruiting new public sector workers.@   

 Foote also expressed concern over the $10.60 cost to campers to book a reservation, in addition to the normal park fee. Only one week can be booked at a time and should someone have to cancel the reservation, for whatever reason, they have to pay $9.00,  which further adds to the expense of camping in this province.   "I also questioned the Minister of Environment and Conservation several times this week about whether this fee covered the cost to engage this call centre service, or whether there was another cost to government to let this contract.  While we know the cost to the people of the province for making and cancelling reservations through this call centre, the minister  did not confirm if there is an additional cost to the province so we still do not know how much this is costing taxpayers. 

"The minister continues to repeat how well the system is working. The reality of it is that people have no choice but to use this call centre if they wish to stay at the provincial parks throughout the province.  Undoubtedly it would  be working just as well if the government had hired Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and saved the people of the province the additional cost to make a reservation.  It is not uncommon for government to hire students during the summer to do such work.