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News
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Opposition concerned other provincial
issues being neglected
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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 remarks in the media that the province is losing out on economic opportunities with respect to the Atlantic Gateway concept is disturbing. The Opposition raised this matter with the premier in the House of Assembly when the news broke that Nova Scotia was front and center in the discussions about the Atlantic Gateway. At the time, Williams appeared not to be aware of the ongoing discussions between Ottawa and Nova Scotia about the concept. Now, Federal Cabinet Minister Loyola Hearn is saying this province is missing out on opportunities because the Williams= government has failed to advance this province as the best option. Nova Scotia reportedly has been actively working with the federal government to promote Halifax as the port of choice for the international transhipment port. "The fact that the premier did not seem aware of this opportunity is troublesome. Is it possible that his ongoing battle with the prime minister over equalization is sidetracking him from looking after this province=s interests in other areas?" says Foote. "With the federal minister now openly stating that this is the case, it raises questions about what other opportunities this province is losing out on.@ Foote says that the Opposition questioned the premier and his ministers in the House of Assembly this past session on whether government was able to work with the federal government given its ongoing fight with the prime minister in particular. The fear is that major issues such as an adjustment package for older fishery workers wishing to retire from the industry, as well as an ice compensation package for those hit by a delayed fishing season because of ice conditions on the northeast and Labrador coasts, are being ignored by this government while the premier and prime minister wage war with each other.
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