This section outlines the actions our Government will take to build a stronger economic foundation.

• Accelerate the Growth of High Performing Businesses

  High performing firms are companies that have witnessed or have the potential to see considerable revenue growth and are led by management teams with a growth mindset and an appetite for continued expansion. Our Government recognizes that high performing firms must be supported to address barriers that may be restricting their potential to generate innovation, employment opportunities and revenues.

  Our Government will identify target sectors with high growth potential and focus its human resources and financial supports on those organizations to maximize growth and economic output. In 2017-18, high performing firms will be identified based on criteria such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), levels of employment, opportunities for diversification within the firm and supports to encourage internationalization.

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• Attract and Retain More Immigrants

  Significant Progress

  Immigration is a key component of economic and labour market growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and contributes to the social and cultural vibrancy of the province. In 2015, 1,122 immigrants came to the province. Our Government will increase immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador by 50 per cent by 2022 by welcoming approximately 1,700 newcomers to the province each year.

  Committed to in Phase 1, our Government released The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador on March 24, 2017, which outlined our specific approach to increasing immigration. Our Government is focused on ensuring that Newfoundland and Labrador becomes a destination of choice for newcomers and their families, while also enticing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians abroad to return to their home province.

  To help meet our target for increased immigration, we have to make it easier for newcomers to come to this province so they can make social and economic contributions. In 2017, the number of individuals supported through provincial immigration programs increased by 25 per cent, compared to 2016. This represents significant progress toward the 2022 goal.

  In 2018-19, our government will streamline immigration application processes and make them available online. We will also add a dedicated stream for immigrant entrepreneurs to the Provincial Nominee Program. This requires working to: strengthen partnerships; maximize pathways to immigration; enhance education, attraction and promotion activities; improve settlement and retention initiatives; support better awareness and understanding of the benefits of multiculturalism and diversity in the province; and, support and increase the repatriation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians living abroad.

  In 2018-19, our government will collaborate with communities to increase newcomer attraction and has introduced a regional Welcoming Communities pilot program to help address barriers to community participation and integration. We will also promote multiculturalism through the K-12 school system and support students from diverse cultural backgrounds by building capacity for educators through training and professional development opportunities focused on multicultural education.

  We will work with employers and service providers to offer employment mentorship and leadership opportunities for immigrant women. We will also increase English as a Second Language (ESL) training for newcomers and the number of ESL sites in Labrador, which represents the fastest growing region in the province for immigration.

  This work is all part of The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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• Build a Renewable Future

  On-going

  Newfoundland and Labrador has an abundance of wind, hydro and tidal energy resources that have not been fully developed. Surrounded by water and with significant amounts of unoccupied Crown land, this province is a prime location for harnessing the potential of renewable energy. We have the space, resources and environmental conditions, as well as the experience and expertise in the energy sector that we can leverage to supply the cleaner, greener energy of tomorrow. Our government will work with industry and other stakeholders in 2018-19 to develop a renewable energy plan that is focused on creating employment opportunities and further positioning the province as an energy hub.

  As governments and industries across Canada and around the world lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste and conserve energy, there is an opportunity to stimulate clean economic growth and create jobs by driving innovation in clean technology. In 2018-19, our government will work with its partners to find opportunities to develop and deploy clean technologies and leverage federal funding. This work builds on our commitment to grow the technology sector, as outlined in The Way Forward on Technology, a collaborative work plan developed with industry.

  Details on the progress of this action will be released as they become available.

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• Create the Post-Secondary Landscape of the Future

  On-going

  Recognizing that Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic make valuable social and economic contributions to our province, our government will use the Independent Appointments Commission process to appoint a committee of experts to undertake a review of the province’s public post-secondary education system. The committee will explore how our system compares to other jurisdictions and will recommend options to achieve better outcomes in post-secondary education in a more cost-efficient manner. Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic will play key roles in this review.

  Further, in 2018-19, the Council on Higher Education, which has a mandate to facilitate collaboration and make recommendations on public post-secondary institutions, will identify opportunities for College of the North Atlantic and Memorial University to pool applied research resources to support the growth of priority sectors. The Council will also identify ways to facilitate and further support the transfer of students between the two institutions, thus supporting academic mobility, non-duplication of effort and cost-efficiency.

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• Diversify the Forestry Sector

  Completed

  Our province has rich forest resources. Yet, our forestry sector has faced challenges in recent years with the rising cost of transportation, a decline in the global demand for newsprint and other print materials, and recent protectionist decisions by the United States. In 2018-19, in collaboration with the recently formed Newfoundland and Labrador Forest Industry Association and other stakeholders, our government will develop a plan for diversifying the province’s forestry sector. By 2020, we are targeting a 20 per cent increase in timber allocations and harvest levels over the previous five-year period.

   

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• Double Oil and Gas Production in Newfoundland and Labrador

  On-going

  The oil and gas industry is very important to our province’s economy, making up 25 per cent of our GDP and accounting for 41 per cent of our exports over the past 20 years. Through Advance 2030: The Way Forward on Oil and Gas, our government is working with oil and gas partners to promote the development, competitiveness and sustainability of the industry in this province. We have set a number of long-term targets, including the direct employment of at least 7,500 people in operations and the drilling of over 100 new exploration wells by 2030.

  Our government knows the potential of our undiscovered and undeveloped oil and gas reserves. We will leverage our globally competitive position and our highly competent and professional workforce to double production to over 650,000 barrels of oil per day by 2030. To support the achievement of this goal, in 2018-19, our government is transitioning the oil and gas subsidiary of Nalcor Energy to a stand-alone Crown corporation with a mandate to accelerate the growth of the oil and gas industry.

  Our government will also enhance Newfoundland and Labrador’s regulatory framework by implementing a Generic Offshore Oil Royalty Regime and regulations.

  Our government will also complete an assessment of the province’s benefits and equity arrangements to align with vision goals by March 31, 2018. Also in 2018, we will complete a review of international regulatory standards to identify opportunities for enhancement.

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• Double Provincial Food Self-Sufficiency by 2022

  Significant Progress

  Our government has committed to increase the province’s food self-sufficiency to at least 20 per cent and is working with farmers and other partners as part of The Way Forward on Agriculture to achieve this goal. In 2018-19, our government will implement a pilot project to serve locally farmed products in public health facilities. This coming year, we will also supply producers with at-cost fruit and vegetable seedlings for priority crops. To do this, we will leverage the newly formed provincial Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Development in Wooddale to pilot a project that identifies the inputs and practices necessary for optimal transplant production. Our government will also identify a way to provide abattoir services to producers in Labrador to support the establishment of viable local livestock operations.

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• Double Tourist Spending in Our Province

  Significant Progress

  Almost ten years ago, a target was set with industry to double resident and non-resident tourism spending to $1.6 billion by 2020. Our government remains committed to this target. In 2016, combined resident and non-resident visitor spending was $1.13 billion and 2017 saw the highest non-resident visitor spending our province has ever seen, at an estimated $575 million.

  In 2018-19, our government will continue its creative and award-winning tourism marketing campaigns. Under the Atlantic Growth Strategy, we are also working with the Maritime Provinces and the federal government on a new market focus in China and Germany.

  Building on the actions of the Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan released in 2017, our government will implement initiatives aimed at creating new tourism experiences and business opportunities. In 2018-19, we will partner with tourism stakeholders to connect prospective and existing tourism businesses with the tourism growth opportunities available throughout the province using Tourism Opportunities Sessions.

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• Enhance Access to Crown Lands

  Completed

  In November 2016, our Government will launch a new municipal leasing program that will allow municipalities to access Crown Lands within their municipal planning boundaries for economic development purposes through long-term leases with flexible payment options, including payment deferral until the development is generating revenue. In 2018, our Government will provide Crown Lands applications online and will have implemented new, publicly available, streamlined approval processes.

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• Enhance Human Resources Planning to Support Sector Diversification

  Significant Progress

  Our Government recently announced the creation of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation. The former Department’s structure placed each sector of the economy into a separate silo. The new Departmental structure eliminates these silos and instead focuses on addressing key challenges that firms operating in all sectors of the economy face when entering new markets and expanding their operations.

  To enhance sector diversification efforts, beginning in 2017-18, our Government will implement an evidence-based framework for the identification of target sectors, using an industry partnership approach. This approach will require engagement of various industry partners and the use of research tools, such as asset mapping, to complete gap analysis, assess regional demand and capacity of a sector to fulfill that demand, and determine levels of competitiveness.

  Also in 2017-18, our Government will commence the development of a comprehensive human resource plan to support sector diversification and the development of a productive and knowledge-intensive economy. This plan will be informed by forecasted labour market opportunities and enhanced labour market information products to assist in workforce planning for individuals and businesses. Further, by March 31, 2018, our Government will have collaborated with sector associations and industry groups to better respond to their private sector labour market needs and support industry diversification. This work will include working with priority sectors, including the agriculture, aquaculture, and oil and gas industries.

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• Ensure the Province’s Tax System is Competitive and Fair

  Completed

  Competitive taxation is a key contributor to attracting investment. In August 2017, our government announced a review of the province’s tax system. To guide the review, an independent five-person committee of members with backgrounds in economics, taxation and public policy was appointed. The main objectives of the independent tax review are to:

  • Ensure the province’s tax system is competitive and fair;
  • Identify ways to simplify the tax system;
  • Reduce costs for both government and tax payers; and
  • Consider the progressivity of the tax system and whether the appropriate tax mix is applied to taxpayers.
  • The Independent Tax Review Committee has been mandated to complete its review and submit a final report to the Minister of Finance in 2018-19.

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• Explore Opportunities to Introduce International Entrepreneur and International Graduate Entrepreneur Categories to the Provincial Nominee Program

  Completed

  By March 31, 2018, our Government will explore opportunities to introduce International Entrepreneur and International Graduate Entrepreneur categories under the Provincial Nominee Program. In 2017-18, we will explore including these new categories with the Government of Canada, as the final decision to introduce these categories rests with the federal government. The International Graduate Entrepreneur category has the potential to enable international graduates from our post-secondary institutions, who decide to go on to start businesses in our province, to remain here and create economic opportunities for themselves and their employees.

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• Grow the Potential of our Mineral Resources

  Completed

  Mining presents a strong opportunity to grow the province’s economy. Already a major economic contributor, mining is forecasted in 2018 to employ 6,000 people and generate $3.4 billion in mineral shipments. As evidenced by our world-class publicly available geoscience, significant potential exists for further exploration and development of vast mineral deposits, particularly in Labrador and in Central Newfoundland’s gold opportunities.

  Minerals and metals are essential ingredients of a green and technologically advanced economy. Our government intends to seize this opportunity. With the growing popularity of electric vehicles and other new technologies that require metals such as nickel, copper and cobalt, which our province has in abundance, there is even greater potential for growth in our mining industry.

  In 2018-19, in collaboration with the mining industry and community stakeholders, we will develop a strategic framework for growing the provincial mining sector in a manner that is responsible, sustainable, competitive and supportive of private-sector investments and job growth in our rural areas.

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• Help Women Advance in Leadership Roles

  Significant Progress

  Women are greatly under-represented in all types of leadership roles, including managerial positions, in politics and on boards. The province loses an opportunity for valuable insight and expertise when women do not meaningfully participate in, or are excluded from, leadership opportunities. In 2018-19, to address this important issue, our government will:

  • Implement a government-community leadership initiative that seeks to increase the number of women in leadership roles; and
  • Host a conference on the status of women in Newfoundland and Labrador that facilitates knowledge sharing and mentorship.

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• Identify Market Access and Value-Added Opportunities for Fish and Seafood

  On-going

  A viable commercial fishing industry is important to the development and sustainability of our economy, in particular in rural communities where the fishery is often a main employer. In 2018-19, our government will engage industry stakeholders, the federal government and other provincial and territorial governments to seek market access and value-added opportunities for fish and seafood products to increase employment and the economic benefits of available fish resources. We will also hold a focus group with representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the opportunities presented by the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.

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• Implement a Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan

  On-going

  Tourism product development includes the delivery of travel experiences that are desired by travelers and that highlight the unique aspects of a region to draw travelers to the destination. Our Government will lead the implementation of a new Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan that is based on research, industry input and the province’s core experience categories of nature and wilderness; people and culture; and, history and heritage.

  In addition to the Provincial Plan, announced in Phase 1, our Government is also working with industry partners to implement five regional destination development plans. Our Government is preparing to release a Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan.

  In 2017-18, our Government will:

  • Continue implementation of the priorities of the regional Destination Development Plans;
  • Establish brand experiences and tourism market readiness guidelines; and,
  • Establish task teams and networks, and provide development/market readiness sessions for strategic experience categories (such as anchor attractions, festivals and events, craft, artistic experiences, food and winter tourism).

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• Implement a Renewed Approach to the Co-operative Sector

  Completed

  A co-operative is a business or other organization that is run jointly by its members. In many jurisdictions, co-operatives have proven to be incredibly important in driving business and economic activity and delivering key services. Co-operatives enable businesses and individuals to come together to satisfy market demands, create new opportunities and address sustainability.

  There is significant opportunity to continue to grow the use of the co-op model by citizens in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our Government and the Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives (NLFC) have a formal partnership established to advance co-operative development. The key priority of this partnership is to enhance the development and promotion of the co-operative model to support business growth in rural communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. This partnership expires in 2017, and Government will work to develop a renewed memorandum of understanding with NLFC by September 30, 2017. The new memorandum of understanding will include activities targeting credit unions that have a desire to participate.

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• Implement an Enhanced Loan Program for Youth Entrepreneurs

  Completed

  By June 30, 2018, our Government will invest $200,000 in an enhanced revolving loan program with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) to provide micro loans to young entrepreneurs. To ensure access for entrepreneurs at various stages of business development, this will include short term businesses, such as a summer operation, as well as long term business proposals. The fund will provide youth with access to loans from very small amounts up to a new level in the range of $5,000 – $10,000. This increased level is intended to be a catalyst for advancing innovative business ideas, succession planning opportunities and developing entrepreneurial leaders. The fund will provide financing to youth who would otherwise not receive support because of age, risk or stage of business, and will be designed as a launching point for access to services from various sources. This includes business counselling and access to other seed capital opportunities. A strategic effort will be made to increase promotion of the fund to youth in all regions of the province.

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• Implement Regional Innovation Systems Pilot Projects

  Implemented

  To enhance regional innovation potential and competitiveness, our Government will coordinate and facilitate five Regional Innovation Systems pilot projects. The Regional Innovation Systems pilots will foster and support regional cooperation, build networks to support innovation, advance regional opportunities and promote and facilitate information sharing and collective action. The pilots do not include more operational structures, but rather a better way of advancing economic development through more formal cooperative approaches among existing players. Building on the work announced in Phase 1, by September 30, 2017, our Government will begin implementation of the five Regional Innovation Systems pilot projects located in:

  • Southern Labrador and Great Northern Peninsula related to fisheries and tourism;
  • Corner Brook and surrounding area related to forestry and agriculture;
  • Gander and surrounding area related to aerospace and defence;
  • Burin Peninsula with connections to Clarenville and area related to industrial technology development; and,
  • Avalon region related to ocean technology.

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• Improve Adult Literacy

  Implemented

  For different reasons, some adults did not have the opportunity to build a strong educational foundation early in their lives. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians must be supported to acquire new skills throughout their lives in order to obtain and maintain employment. Literacy supports are therefore essential to building a strong and inclusive workforce. In 2018-19, our government will develop a new Adult Literacy Action Plan. Our approach will consider how to build an even more empowered, skilled and ready workforce for our increasingly knowledge-based economy.

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• Improve the Sense of Arrival for Travelers to Newfoundland and Labrador

  Implemented

  A sense of arrival is the welcome and warmth that visitors feel once they have reached their destination. Ideally, this sense of arrival is in keeping with the perceptions generated through the promotional activities and in meeting expectations of the vacation experience in the mind of the visitor prior to the trip.

  By March 31, 2018, our Government will collaborate with tourism operators, municipalities and transportation organizations at major entry points, gateways, hubs and attractions to establish common sense of arrival goals and priorities and initiate partnership activities. This collaboration will include developing market-readiness guidelines that outline best practices for welcome, beautification opportunities, wayfinding, signage and other visitor services.

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• Improve Wage Subsidy Supports

  Completed

  The JobsNL Wage Subsidy Program provides funding to private-sector and non-profit employers to create long-term or seasonal employment opportunities, particularly for those who have recently graduated from a post-secondary program, who live with a disability, or who receive Income Support. In 2018-19, our government will announce improvements to the JobsNL Wage Subsidy to ensure that the program better meets the needs of new and small to medium-sized businesses and those seeking employment.

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• Incorporate Women’s Employment Plans in Our Government’s Infrastructure Strategy

  Implemented

  Women’s Employment Plans are designed to improve the participation of women in employment on commercial and industrial projects. These Plans support our Government’s commitment to reduce the gender wage gap by increasing women’s access to a wider range of employment, particularly in trades and technical occupations. Our Government will establish requirements for Women’s Employment Plans on infrastructure projects within the province and will commence implementation in 2017-18.

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• Increase Activity in the Mining Sector through Targeted Promotion and Core Digitization

  Significant Progress

  Our Government will assess and promote new areas of mineral resources to stimulate increased activity in the mining sector. This will include increasing exploration and development through targeted promotional activities and development of a core digitization process (electronic format) to allow broader sharing of the province’s core sample information to companies worldwide. We will also complete an assessment of mineral exploration potential based on regional and economic development considerations to identify priority areas for resource data collection and promotion. In 2017-18, the core digitization process will be initiated and priority resource assessments will be undertaken.

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• Increase Revenue to the Province Through International Education

  Significant Progress

  Our Government will increase revenue generated from international education in the K-12 system. A review of options to expand our province’s K-12 International Education Program will include the feasibility of working with other jurisdictions to establish Newfoundland and Labrador-administered schools abroad, selling or licensing the use of our K-12 education curriculum to other jurisdictions, developing e-learning education services for access by international students and increasing the number of international students studying in our K-12 schools. By March 31, 2018, Government will have determined a model for governing the delivery of the province’s K-12 International Education Program.

  Further, K-12 students who graduate with a high school diploma based on our provincial curriculum may choose to later study at one of our province’s post-secondary institutions, as this is a natural pathway. As an important source of potential future residents for the province, international post-secondary students present a real economic opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador. Post-secondary institutions attract talent and provide a gateway to our province for many motivated, innovative and entrepreneurial individuals from around the world. We will work with Memorial University, College of the North Atlantic and private post-secondary institutions in the province to assist in enhancing post-secondary institutions’ efforts to attract and retain international students and graduates in Newfoundland and Labrador, and explore opportunities to provide international students with easier pathways for immigrating to our province.

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• Increase the Number of Social Enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador

  Implemented

  To increase the number of social enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador and enhance services for existing social enterprises, our Government will develop a Social Enterprise Action Plan, including long-term strategic goals supported by an annual work plan. Social enterprise development is another innovation tool for advancing regional growth opportunities to benefit the economy, support rural sustainability and encourage entrepreneurial governance models and service delivery. Our Government will release a social enterprise action plan by May 31, 2017.

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• Increase the Number of Vendors Completing Government IT Work

  Implemented

  Currently, our Government uses a Vendor of Record model that is comprised of partner organizations which have been approved to manage the majority of Government IT contracts. Accordingly, this model limits availability of related Government IT work to other interested companies. The new model will allow more companies to bid on Government IT work, thereby increasing competition and choice of vendor. By 2017-18, our Government will implement a Managed Service Provider approach, which will expand opportunities for local vendors to conduct work on public sector IT initiatives.

   

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• Modernize Procurement

  Building on our commitment from Phase 1, our Government has modernized the public procurement framework and expanded opportunities for local businesses. Our Government introduced public procurement legislation last fall, which provides increased transparency, consistency and flexibility within our procurement practices and ensures an open and competitive bidding process. In 2017-18, our Government will introduce regulations under the new Public Procurement Act that will increase bidding thresholds to align with trade agreement commitments. An increase in thresholds will provide greater opportunity for acquisitions below this value to be sourced locally within Newfoundland and Labrador. Local suppliers will also realize benefits through increased opportunities to bid on Government services that were once excluded from procurement legislation. This new legislation will build demand for the products and services of local businesses.

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• Pilot an Initiative to Recycle/Repurpose Non-Renewable Resources for Quarry (Mine) Applications

  On-going

  By March 31, 2018, our Government will develop and launch a pilot project to improve recycling and utilization of non-renewable resources such as road base and sub-base, concrete, asphalt and mine tailings for use in various other applications. In particular, these non-renewable resources will be repurposed for quarry applications, such as use as quarry material and/or to support the rehabilitation of abandoned quarry sites. As part of this pilot, we will identify a priority list of sites requiring rehabilitation and coordinate work efforts with residents/companies to implement recycling initiatives. The results of the pilot project will be used to establish criteria for future program development.

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• Place Private Sector Job Growth at the Centre of All Government Decisions

  On-going

  To improve the economic landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador, our Government will take a whole-of-government approach to creating the conditions necessary for new private sector job creation and economic growth. Building a sustainable economy is our top priority. Our Government’s primary focus is encouraging conditions that support private sector job creation and economic sustainability through private sector growth and entrepreneurship.

  To oversee this process, our Government is immediately mandating a new Cabinet Committee on Jobs to lead our province’s economic recovery efforts. This committee of Ministers will serve as a forum to identify new whole-of-government opportunities to support private sector employment and economic growth. The Cabinet Committee on Jobs will seek the advice of provincial leaders, including private sector labour representatives and members of the province’s business community.

  Further, each Minister and Government department will be expected to report on how their actions help create stronger conditions for economic and private sector job growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. This will encourage decision-making that places our economic future at the centre of all decisions.

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• Plan for Our Human Resource Needs

  On-going

  In order to grow the economy and retain our workforce, it is important that we have access to reliable and up-to-date labour market information that allows us to predict the job opportunities, training needs and skills gaps of the future. In 2018-19, our government will develop a Comprehensive Human Resource Plan guided by labour market analysis to forecast future job opportunities. This plan will consider the needs of Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, youth, older workers, women and newcomers to the province.

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• Position Our Artists for Success

  On-going

  Artists in Newfoundland and Labrador bring high levels of technical proficiency to their disciplines and collaborate with a community of global artists at the top levels of their fields. In 2017, our government introduced the Status of the Artist Act, which recognizes the contributions that artists make to our province’s economic and social well-being, as well as our collective health, culture and quality of life.

  It is important to support professional artists and to maximize the benefits from this economic activity that employs nearly 5,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Through a collaborative effort with interested professional artists, in 2018-19 our government will pilot an Arts Accelerator Program to assist emerging and established professional artists in evaluating their market presence and to introduce new tools in managing, promoting and developing their artistic practice. In doing so, the hope is that artists can expand their audience, engage in future planning, and ultimately allow for sustainable creative processes.

   

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• Recognize the Important Role of the Community Sector

  Completed

  The recent government-industry partnerships used to create employment, growth and diversification plans for the agriculture, aquaculture and technology sectors are examples of our government’s commitment to collaboration to diversify the economy. Supporting and working with the private sector is, however, only one part of the picture – the community sector also generates significant employment and its members, both paid and volunteer, are helping to build healthy, dynamic and prosperous communities.

  In 2018-19, our government will lead a process to recognize the social and economic contribution of the community sector through a work plan process in collaboration with the Community Sector Council and community organizations throughout our province. Also in 2018-19, our government will deliver on its commitment to begin implementation of multi-year core funding for community groups. Multi-year grants will eliminate the burden of applying for funding on an annual basis and will allow community groups to focus more on what they do best – serving the diverse needs and interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

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• Release a Business Innovation Agenda

  Completed

  In the 2016 Speech from the Throne, our Government committed to resetting the provincial innovation agenda by developing a long-term approach to expand the pool and capacity of the province’s economic wealth generators, innovation and growth-focused businesses. Through the new Business Innovation Agenda, our Government is aiming to create the conditions that enable the province’s innovation-driven businesses to grow and diversify. Our Government will ensure that information technology is recognized as an enabling platform across all sectors. The Business Innovation Agenda is one component of an enhanced economic development approach that will include:

  • Refocused trade activity, such as trade missions which are more sector focused and firm centric;
  • The development of a Regional Trade Network; and,
  • Working with local firms to identify opportunities and challenges arising from new trade agreements.

  A Regional Trade Network will be established by May 31, 2017 and target sectors will be identified in summer 2017. Also in summer 2017, our Government will release the Business Innovation Agenda.

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• Review Municipal and Environmental Permitting Processes

  Completed

  Our Government is committed to improved efficiencies and services with respect to its public facing and internal business processes while ensuring the highest standards for environmental protection and land use planning. In 2017-18, we will review a number of key existing regulatory and legislative permitting and licensing processes in an effort to better align with Lean best practices and process improvement tools. The review process will support more timely approvals for clients and stakeholders, including municipalities, individuals and companies seeking zoning changes within protected road zones and individuals, companies and industry involved in development, technology and business ventures requiring permits or approvals from the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment. This review will examine regulatory and legislative requirements associated with specific permits and licenses, business processes, timelines, IT infrastructure, public interfaces and service standards across Government.

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• Review the Environmental Assessment Process

  On-going

  The objective of the environmental assessment process is to ensure that development proceeds in an environmentally acceptable manner. The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment, in partnership with the appropriate regulatory and economic development departments, will conduct a review of Part X of the Environmental Protection Act and the Environmental Assessment Regulations, 2003 in 2017-18. The last review of this process occurred in 2002. The review will begin with a jurisdictional scan of relevant legislation, business processes and best practices across Canada.

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• Revitalize the Approach to Supporting Culture

  Completed

  Newfoundland and Labrador’s cultural sector is a significant part of our province’s economy, both in terms of output and employment. Arts and heritage are helping to build vibrant communities and regions throughout the province and contribute significantly to the province’s tourism product. The existing cultural plan is now ten years old. Our Government will engage arts, heritage and tourism stakeholders to launch a renewed plan for culture, including: examining accomplishments and gaps, cultural policy and programs, export development to enhance access to markets and develop a better understanding of the impact of the digital transformation on culture to address challenges and take advantage of new opportunities. Consultations will commence by March 31, 2018. By January 31, 2019, our Government will release a new Cultural Plan to support arts and heritage in the province.

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• Spur New Business Ideas Through Innovation Challenges

  On-going

  Our government is looking for entrepreneurs and creative thinkers who are interested in coming up with new ways to solve problems. Innovation challenges are a creative and increasingly common use of public funding that calls on individuals, businesses and community partners to enter competitions to design new solutions to old problems. Innovation challenges encourage outside-the-box thinking to address social, economic or technological problems, where no solution exists or where current solutions are inadequate. To help drive innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador, our government will launch its first innovation challenge in 2018-19 through the Newfoundland and Labrador Innovation Council. Innovation challenges have the potential to spur new business activity and investment.

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• Strategically Attract Investment in Priority Sectors

  Significant Progress

  Our government is strategically targeting sectors of our economy to support growth and diversification, including mining, forestry, oil and gas, tourism, agriculture, aquaculture and technology. We have taken steps to attract more investment activity in these sectors. In the agriculture sector, for example, we have made more than 64,000 hectares of new Crown land available for farming, which provides strategic opportunities for investment.

  Further, the recent favourable private-sector response to a Request for Proposals to lease the Bull Arm fabrication site points to the interest in, and potential of, targeted and strategic investment attraction activities. In 2018-19, our government will align resources to target key sectors and identify priority business opportunities and markets to advance economic development in our province.

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• Streamline Business and Innovation Supports

  On-going

  We are positioning Newfoundland and Labrador as a strategic and straightforward place to do business. One key step that we have taken in this regard is the streamlining of business and innovation supports for companies. By making it easier to avail of provincial services, we are helping to attract new firms to our province and retain those already doing business here.

  In 2017, our government launched InnovateNL, a single-window service delivery approach to innovation programs. In 2018-19, we will pilot a streamlined application process for innovation supports that will reduce administrative burden for established clients.

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• Strengthen Apprenticeship Training Through More Flexible Delivery Models

  Completed

  In 2017-18, our Government will work with existing training providers to pilot the development and delivery of online learning for select block training to ensure apprentices have the option to continue to work while participating in required training. Five trades with a high number of registered apprentices have been selected for the pilot: plumber, construction electrician, welder, automotive service technician and carpenter.

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• Support Growth in the Technology Sector

  On-going

  Technology presents significant employment and business growth opportunities for our province. In 2018-19, our government will capitalize on the potential of technology to create jobs for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by positioning the province for technological excellence and innovation. Our government will continue implementing The Way Forward on Technology through actions such as prioritizing the technology sector for Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program supports, and providing supports for unemployed skilled trade workers to retrain for technology-related occupations.

  In 2018-19, we will also work in partnership with industry and academia to seize local opportunities flowing from the recent federal announcement on the establishment of an Oceans Supercluster in the Atlantic region.

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• Support Growth of the Aquaculture Industry to 50,000 MT Annually for Salmon and 10,750 MT Annually for Mussels

  Significant Progress

  In 2015, the aquaculture industry produced 22,815 metric tonnes (MT) valued at over $161 million and employed over 400 people. In 2016 there were 137 aquaculture-related licenses issued and active in the Newfoundland and Labrador licensing system; however, there were over 50 applications that were in the system for over four years (“stale” applications). These stale licenses were limiting areas for development for both existing and new entrants to the industry. Our government has committed to help the mussel sector grow to 10,750 metric tonnes and our salmonid sector to 50,000 metric tonnes in annual output. Achieving this goal will result in an increase in direct and indirect jobs across the province by 1,100 person-years.  In 2017-2018, our Government has taken measures to keep applications active and free up water area for aquaculture development. In addition, our Government is establishing rigorous criteria that companies must meet in order to maintain site applications and licenses in the Newfoundland and Labrador aquaculture licensing system.

  In 2018-19, we will provide funding for technology innovation, research and infrastructure to support mussel and salmonid sector growth. We will work with our counterparts to identify an allocation under the Atlantic Fisheries Fund for this purpose.

  Further, in 2018-19 our government will shift from an annual to a multi-year aquaculture licensing process. This shift will offer our aquaculture industry the benefit of longer-term focus, greater predictability and more time to devote to business growth, market development, job creation and safe product supply by reducing administrative burden. These actions will advance The Way Forward on Aquaculture.

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• Support Women in the Development of Knowledge-Based Firms in the Fields of Science, Technology and Engineering

  On-going

  In 2017-18, our Government will collaborate with Women in Science and Engineering Newfoundland and Labrador (WISE NL) and other industry partners to implement a new entrepreneurship initiative focused on increasing the involvement of women scientists, engineers and technologists in new business development. Through increased networking, training and mentoring, women will be supported in the development of knowledge-based firms in the fields of science, technology and engineering. This collaboration will ensure connectivity to other entrepreneurial supports such as financing, business counselling, networking for knowledge-based firms and opportunities for international graduate students.

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• Take a Longer-Term Approach to Infrastructure Development

  Our government will continue to implement its multi-year infrastructure plans. A longer-term approach to infrastructure development provides certainty for investors, who often consider local, regional and provincial infrastructure development when making business decisions. Multi-year planning also creates more certainty for related industries, such as the construction industry, which enhances their ability to plan their human resource needs and create job opportunities for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. In 2018-19, our multi-year infrastructure plan will provide almost $620 million for infrastructure and economic stimulus, including:

  • Memorial University’s Core Science Facility in St. John’s;
  • The Centre of Excellence for Heavy Equipment Industrial Trades at College of the North Atlantic in Stephenville;
  • The continued development of the new regional hospital in Corner Brook;
  • The replacement of the Waterford Hospital and the expansion of community-based mental health services;
  • The development of the Green Bay Health Centre in Springdale;
  • The construction of the Labrador Wellness Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay;
  • The construction of new schools in Paradise and Coley’s Point, as well as repairs and maintenance of many existing schools;
  • Paving projects on the Trans Labrador Highway and for the Provincial Roads Program; and
  • Vessel refits and the maintenance of ferries, ferry terminals and wharves.

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• Test New Approaches for Meeting Labour Market Demands

  Completed

  In February 2017, our Government announced the establishment of a new Workforce Innovation Centre at College of the North Atlantic’s Corner Brook campus. This Centre will support and fund labour market activities, research and projects that demonstrate innovation and identify methods to better assist individuals prepare for, find, return to or maintain sustainable employment.

  Reflecting our Government’s commitment to diversify the economy through innovation, the Centre will partner with business, labour and community groups and agencies to foster and find innovative approaches to address local labour market needs and improve employment and training outcomes. An inaugural call for proposals will occur by June 30, 2017.

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• Transition to Groundfish

  Significant Progress

  The provincial fishing industry is currently experiencing a transition in resource availability, with expectations of greater activity in the groundfish sector in the coming years. Harvesters and processors will require supports to develop a competitive world-class groundfish sector that can provide top quality products to discerning markets in Canada and internationally. Building on the support delivered through the new Seafood Innovation and Transition Program announced during Budget 2016, our Government has established a Fisheries Advisory Council. An Independent Chairperson for the Council has been announced and the membership and terms of reference for the Council was finalized in summer 2017.

  By March 2018, our Government will have worked with the Fisheries Advisory Council on an action plan for cod revitalization. This will include actions that support all stages of the value chain, including harvesting, processing and marketing to maximize the value of available resources to the province. These actions will be supported by programming secured through the new Federal Atlantic Fisheries Fund and the Federal Ocean Protection Plan.

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• Unlock the Potential of Data

  On-going

  We are living in the age of analytics where data is the renewable resource of the future. Government agencies are the holders of considerable public data that has the potential to be used by researchers and the private sector to develop new products, services and solutions while also creating business and job opportunities. We will help unlock the potential of data by initiating the development of a regulatory framework in 2019 for the commercial use of health and genetics data that is respectful of existing privacy legislation and ensures a scientific and financial return to Newfoundland and Labrador.

  Throughout the world, health data is also being used to analyze population health and disease patterns, predict risk and negative events and, ultimately, improve patient experience and care. In 2018-19, our government will launch, under the leadership of the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, an online Provincial Health Data Lab to provide researchers and entrepreneurs with secure access to health data, such as laboratory test results.

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