Budget good for west coast: minister

CORNER BROOK - The people of western Newfoundland will not only enjoy unprecedented tax deductions and increased seniors benefits as the rest of the province, but they will also see changes to ignite economic prosperity and well-being, according to Finance Minister Tom Marshall.

That belief comes on the heels of delivering Budget 2008 - a second straight "historic" document brought down by the Humber East MHA.

Fulfilling their re-election commitment of the last election campaign, the Progressive Conservatives have put the wheels in motion towards building a new hospital in Corner Brook. Money has been allocated for planning and site selection.

"That means government has now accepted this," Marshall told The Western Star.
"Eventually, we will see a new hospital go up.

"Our hospital is old. It has outlived its useful life, in my view ...What we have is not good enough as the main secondary institution. It serves the whole west coast. It is certainly time for a new facility and I am delighted government is now accepted it as policy."

Western Health is also getting an interventional angiography suite and will see the replacement of the analog mammography units - Corner Brook will get two digital ones, Marshall said. There is also money to expand orthopedic services here.

Also, $500,000 has been provided to being the implementation of a new governance structure for Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. Marshall said that will bring money for a new president and a secretariat for the Board of Regents, and, over time, the reorganization of the administrative level and supporting positions.

"I think this is the key to future economic development for the west coast," he said. "It was so important that this happened because we always wanted to see the university take on a greater role in economic development on the west coast.

"I think they felt stymied under the old government structure ...so it was key to let the academic community in Corner Brook approve their own academic offerings."

Marshall is proud the province has stepped up its share of the Municipal Capital Works Program. The new population-based program will see the province pay the brunt of a 70/30 agreement with Corner Brook on capital works initiatives, while municipalities such as Steady Brook and Massey Drive will be offered a 90/10 agreement, and Pasadena an 80/20 ratio.

Marshall also said there is money to build a temporary road from the dementia units to the long-term care facility to help keep the traffic off O'Connell Drive, while he is saving the rest of the road program in the city for an announcement when he speaks at the Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade luncheon on Monday.

The budget also included increased funding support for the Centre of Environmental Excellence, while the province announced financial support for the Ironman and East Coast Music Awards events to be held in Corner Brook.