The Truth About Outports

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When the fisheries and cod stocks were put under a moratorium, the Newfoundland and Labrador economy took a hard hit. Small fishing communities were devastated. Many lost everything and were forced to move to large centers to try to make a living. To alleviate the stress on these communities, the government tried to build a tourism industry by showcasing the beautiful coastal communities and rich history of Newfoundland and Labrador, in an attempt to save those who had refused to leave their homes in Rural Newfoundland.

In 2001, with tourism making great gains in Newfoundland, the tragedy of 9/11 would give thousands of stranded foreigners a look at "God's Country". Many would return each year to see the beautiful island paradise and splendid views in the coastal towns. Many wanted a piece of the beauty and bought property for summer homes.

As the populations in most small coastal villages in Rural Newfoundland continued to age and decrease, Town Councils found it very difficult to keep up with infrastructure expenses and were forced to increase property taxes. To add to this, the Newfoundland and Labrador Government cut Infrastructure Grants from $300,000 per year down to just over $90,000. This made providing clean drinking water and essential services to residents impossible.

To add insult to injury, medical services in most communities were slashed to the point where residents were forced to travel to major centers in order to see a doctor. The towns that had retained their medical clinics were hurt as well. Doctors faced larger clientele due to the aging population and had to resort to seeing patients on an "Appointment Only" basis. This had put a great strain on residents, who had found they were being forced to drive long distances to Emergency Rooms of major center hospitals. Some were forced to drive even during snowstorms or when they should not have been driving in the first place due to their symptoms.

At this juncture, the Newfoundland and Labrador Government became aware of the problems but refused to address the concerns of residents.

By now, many Seniors and Low-Income residents found that their incomes and cost of living were growing further and further apart. Most found themselves in dire straits, financial ruin, or living in homes that required costly maintenance and they could not afford to make the necessary repairs or pay the growing tax bills from the town. Still many had worked for the Newfoundland and Labrador Government but due to their pensions not being indexed, could no longer afford the costs of being a homeowner and were forced to move to more meager accommodations.

A few Senior's found safety in selling their homes and moving into apartments specifically built to house Senior's. Some of those who would require the aid of medical services found shelter in Senior Long Term Care Homes built by either private entrepreneurs or the Newfoundland and Labrador Government. Others wanted to stay in their own home as they could still afford the high cost of living but required a Home Care Worker to assist them with their daily living.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Government is planning to spend $19.2 million for a 236-bed facility in Corner Brook and $9.3 million for a 50-bed Long-Term Care Home in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Site selection for a 460-bed Long-Term Care Home in St. John's and $500 thousand for a site selection of a Long-Term Care Home in Carbonear is also in the plans. Approximately $30 million has been set aside for the construction of a new Long-Term Care Home in Lewisporte, and 14 Long-Term Care beds in the new Labrador West Health Centre.

What about Home Care Workers? Why spend all of that money on Long Term Care Homes when Home Care would provide work in the local communities and people can stay in their own homes?

Whether by coincidence or through some major blunder by our government, the small towns and villages of Rural Newfoundland are being sold out from under us. We are being driven into major centers or forced into Senior's Homes while many Home Care Workers are going outside the Province where they are provided good salaries and benefits. Why has the Newfoundland and Labrador Government not done more to prevent this?

A conversation with some workers building a new wharf in Happy Adventure lead me to suspect that something was wrong. They had already built several wharves in other fishing villages but the wharves would never be of any use to fishermen. All three men stated that they seemed to be designed to accommodate yachts and personal watercraft. Add to this the talk of closing down Fish Processing Plants in various areas of the Province and those wharves (marina's) could only be of use to the "well to do" in the town or people who are being lured to town to purchase property.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Government could stop what is happening but they don't. The Danny Williams government even made a Member of the House of Assembly (MHA) the Minister of Health, even though he actually owned two Senior Long Term Care Homes, a Land Development Company, a Home Hardware Store and a Funeral Home. He would be the last person concerned with keeping people in their homes and that stinks of "Conflict of Interest".

I fear we are being lead along the path that I originally suspected: Demolition of the outport towns in order to provide Ocean Front Property to the highest bidder.