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News
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Plan B for Stephenville area short on details and action December 19, 2005
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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid says government’s Plan B announcement for the
Bay St. George region is very short on details and appears to be no real
plan at all. Reid is disappointed that the only thing announced today was
the formation of a committee that was supposed to have been formed months
ago with a plan of action should the mill close.
"I was very surprised to see the lack of planning by government in today’s announcement," said Mr. Reid. "The Premier and Minister of Natural Resources have been touting a Plan B for the past several months. It appears today that no plan existed and the statements made by the Premier and minister were nothing but empty rhetoric. I suspect this is the reason we did not see the Premier in Stephenville this morning to attend the announcement. "There was no announcement today of an economic diversification fund for the Bay St. George region. Government was willing to give Abitibi a $175 million subsidy, yet has put nothing on the table for the citizens and workers of that region. This money should have been committed in an attempt to generate new economic activity and help the people in the region adjust to life after Abitibi. Instead, we hear more of the hype and talk that has become a trademark of this government. "There was no mention in today’s announcement about any winterization plans for the mill, something that will have to be considered to protect the mill asset. There was no increased Municipal Operating Grant to replace the $700,000 the town will lose each year in taxes paid by Abitibi. There was no specific explanation of what opportunities government has identified. Today’s announcement shows there was no Plan B and government is only now striking a committee, something the Premier stated was done months ago. "Today’s announcement is a major disappointment. The Premier led a committee to help the people of Harbour Breton and all they have received were a few make-work programs. The Premier isn’t even involved with this committee. For a Premier that stated he was all over this file, the results certainly prove otherwise."
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