NB 804
June 22, 2007
FREDERICTON (CNB) - A public consultation tour will follow on the heels of today's release of a discussion paper and website dedicated to population growth. Details were announced today by Premier Shawn Graham and Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne, Minister responsible for the Population Growth Secretariat.
"We are issuing a direct challenge to New Brunswickers throughout the province to get engaged and actively participate in this consultation process," Graham said. "The population growth strategy will play a major role in making New Brunswick self sufficient by 2026."
The discussion paper, entitled 'It is Time to Act: Towards New Brunswick's Population Growth Strategy', promotes action from all New Brunswickers on the major population-related obstacles on the road to self-sufficiency. These challenges include: an aging population, low birth rates, growing out-migration to other provinces and impending labour shortages.
Graham said the paper is a starting point, intended to focus public input on the population growth website and during the public consultation tour. "We are releasing this document to build awareness of the significant population challenges that are currently facing New Brunswick," the premier said.
The provincial consultation tour, designed to engage New Brunswickers in the creation of a Population Growth Strategy, will consist of town-hall meetings in Saint John, July 4; Fredericton. July 5; Bathurst, July 11; Moncton, July 12, and Edmundston, July 17. Representatives of the Population Growth Secretariat will seek input from the public with respect to retaining current New Brunswickers, repatriating former residents and expanding immigration and settlement activities.
Key stakeholders and parties interested in this province's population challenges are invited to provide input in the areas of immigration, repatriation, retention and settlement. The public can also submit written briefs, comments or suggestions regarding the development of the Population Growth Strategy on the Population Growth website at http://www.gnb.ca/population, or by e-mail to: pgs-scd@gnb.ca.
"As a government we have committed to addressing population decline, which is why, in our recent budget, we nearly doubled the funds for population growth activities," Byrne said. "Today's announcement sends a clear message: that we must grow our population to achieve self-sufficiency and we want all New Brunswickers to be part of this process."
Meeting a major Charter for Change commitment, the Population Growth Secretariat was launched in April of this year and is tasked with increasing our population through co-ordinated efforts in the areas of immigration, repatriation, retention and settlement.
07/06/22
MEDIA CONTACT: Brendan Langille, communications, Population Growth Secretariat, 506-444-5070.
07/06/22
