Since 2004, the Rural Secretariat has organized three Dialogue Days. The
purpose of each of the three meetings held to date has varied, but they
provided an opportunity for citizens and government to come together to
explore issues of importance to rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
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2004 |
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The first Dialogue Day, held in Port Blandford in October 2004, brought
together nearly 150 people including individuals from larger and smaller
communities throughout the province, the Premier and provincial cabinet
ministers and government members, deputy ministers, and federal officials.
Sister Elizabeth Davis, member of the Royal Commission on our Place in
Canada, facilitated the Day. The purpose was to provide input into the
structure and mandate of the newly established Rural Secretariat, and to
start the process of envisaging the kind of future we collectively want for
larger and smaller communities throughout the Province. That meeting led to
the creation of the nine regions of the Rural Secretariat, and to the open
call for nominations for people to serve on the nine Regional Councils and
the Provincial Council of the Rural Secretariat.
Related News Releases: |
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Premier Williams and Minister Dunderdale to hold consultation on the Rural Secretariat
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Rural Secretariat dialogue excellent opportunity for government, community
to exchange ideas on a vision for rural Newfoundland and Labrador |
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2005 |
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The second Dialogue Day, held at Marble Mountain in October 2005, again
brought together about 150 people – all the newly appointed Regional Council
members, the chair of the Provincial Council, the Premier, cabinet ministers
and government members, deputy ministers, and the staff of the Rural
Secretariat. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an orientation for
the new Regional Council members, to share government’s expectations for the new citizen engagement model of the Rural Secretariat,
and to allow Council members to meet and get to know one another.
Related Release:
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Premier, Minister to meet with Rural Secretariat regional councils |
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Photo Gallery 2005 |
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2006 |
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The third Dialogue Day, held in Rocky Harbour in October 2006, brought
together a much smaller group. Each of the nine Regional Councils identified
two representatives to meet with the Minister Responsible for the Rural
Secretariat, cabinet ministers, representatives from the government caucus,
the chair and appointed members of the Provincial Council (the full Council
had not been appointed at that point), and staff of the Rural Secretariat.
The focus was on the nine Regional Councils and their perspectives for the
long term sustainability of their regions. The meeting was planned to allow
for frank discussions in an informal setting, to share views and opinions,
and to help advance the thinking around regional sustainability.
Each Dialogue Day has been different, but collectively they have started
to help shape the kinds of ongoing discussions the Rural Secretariat hopes
to promote between government and citizens in the Province. Future Dialogue
Days will take other forms, and their impact on public policy will become
more and more relevant as government and citizens continue to have informed
discussions on topics of mutual interest.
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Photo Gallery 2006 |
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Council
