Premiers Sponsor Shipbuilding, Marine Fabrication Forum

ATLANTIC PREMIERS--Premiers Sponsor Shipbuilding, Marine Fabrication Forum

Atlantic premiers will be sponsoring a national forum on a Canadian marine industrial policy in St. John's on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20. The forum, titled Charting a Course: Towards a Canadian Marine Industrial Policy, is being hosted by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Brian Tobin.

The forum will bring together labour, industry and government representatives and provide an opportunity to explore the challenges facing Canada's marine industrial sector.

The forum will focus on three key areas; opportunities available to Canadians in the marine industrial sector; preparedness of the Canadian shipbuilding workforce; and the changes needed in national policies to secure the industry's future.

"This meeting is an opportunity to explore potential development of the marine industrial sector in Nova Scotia and the Atlantic region, particularly in the area of offshore fabrication for the oil and gas sector," said Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm. "It's a good first step."

"The Canadian shipbuilding and marine infrastructure industry is not reaching its full potential. A decline in work in Canada's shipyards is being experienced from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia," said Premier Tobin. "It is crucial that the federal government move towards a policy of increased support for the industry and position Canada to take advantage of the opportunities in the marine industrial sector at home while becoming more competitive abroad."

"New Brunswick has a long tradition in shipbuilding that requires a clear national policy to ensure its future," said New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord.

"Shipbuilding is a very important part of the economy in the eastern part of our province," said Prince Edward Island Premier Pat Binns. "We have an extremely efficient and highly trained workforce. What concerns me is that without the ability to compete for and win contracts, this workforce will be lost to us. We need a national shipbuilding policy to assure that Canadian companies can compete."

Delegates to the forum will have an opportunity to engage key industry, labour and government representatives and assist in the development of a report. The Atlantic premiers will communicate the recommendations of the forum to the prime minister, and advocate its incorporation into a national marine industrial strategy.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media representatives planning to attend the forum must be accredited. To obtain information or an accreditation form, contact Doris Walsh, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, by telephone at 709-729-3812, by cellular phone at 709-685-3664, by fax at 709-729-0584, or by e- mail at doriswalsh@mail.gov.nf.ca . Accreditation forms must be returned by Wednesday, Oct. 18.

AUX RÉDACTEURS EN CHEF: Ce communiqué est également disponible en français; c. élec. Release@gov.ns.ca .