REF NO.: 293

SUBJECT:

DATE: July 8, 2004

MemorialUniversity’s Centre of Regional Development Studies (CORDS) and the Public Policy Research Centre (PPRC) will host a symposium on strengthening and growing the province’s economy on Oct. 4-5, 2004. The symposium, titled Growing the Economy of Newfoundland and Labrador, will provide recommendations for economic development in the province. The objectives of the symposium are to:

• Outline the current state of the Newfoundlandand Labradoreconomy;
• Identify new directions to grow the economy and to build on or confirm existing directions;
• Initiate or mobilize partnership initiatives to advance development;
• Highlight the role of Memorial University of Newfoundland in innovation and economic growth.

A steering committee, chaired by Dr. Robert Greenwood, director of CORDS, and composed of representatives of the symposium partners, is currently developing and organizing the symposium. A call for proposals for papers/ presentations has been issued and submissions will be reviewed by the steering committee that will select 5-6 proposals to be presented at the symposium.

A cross-section of stakeholders from various industries/sectors (business, labour, community, federal, provincial and municipal government, social, and education) will be invited to participate in the symposium.

Prior to the symposium CORDS will conduct a broader consultation on priority issues and opportunities for growth with the Regional Economic Development Boards (REDBs). Information from these pre-symposium sessions will provide input for the symposium itself, as well as for the preparation of a report on the symposium. The report, to be prepared by CORDS and the PPRC, will inform the setting of strategic priorities for the university and will be a valuable resource for the development agendas of all stakeholders.

Dr. Axel Meisen, president of MemorialUniversity, will attend the opening evening session of the symposium on Monday, Oct. 4, 2004. The location for the symposium is yet to be determined.

Note to editors: the call for proposals follows this release.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

FOR PAPERS TO BE PRESENTED TO

A Symposium on Growing the Economy of Newfoundlandand Labrador

Hosted by the Centre of Regional Development Studies (CORDS)

and the Public Policy Research Centre (PPRC)

MemorialUniversityof Newfoundland

In co-operation with

The Government of Canada

The Government of Newfoundlandand Labrador

The Newfoundlandand LabradorFederation of Municipalities

The Newfoundlandand LabradorBusiness Caucus

The Newfoundlandand LabradorFederation of Labour

and

The Newfoundlandand LabradorRegional Economic Development Association

October 4^th — 5^th, 2004

Two-page submissions are requested from individuals, organizations, researchers and research teams interested in presenting to a symposium on Growing the Economy of Newfoundland and Labrador. The objectives of the symposium are to:

Ø Outline the current state of the Newfoundlandand Labradoreconomy;

Ø Identify new directions to grow the economy and to build on or confirm existing directions;

Ø Initiate or mobilize partnership initiatives to advance development;

Ø Highlight the role of MemorialUniversityin innovation and economic growth.

Submissions should outline the following:

1. Topic of research/presentation.
2. Description of topic and current stage of development.
3. Potential impact of approaches/research findings on growing the Newfoundlandand Labradoreconomy.
4. Complexity/risk/ cost of implementing in the short to medium term.
5. Do research results and recommendations build on current efforts, represent a change in course or represent a completely new approach to growing the economy?

Approaches, research and papers that are completed, currently underway, or being considered are welcome for consideration. A steering committee composed of representatives of the symposium partners will review the two-page submissions and select 5-6 that will be invited to submit papers/develop presentations. These papers/ presentations will then be given to a commentator (to be selected by the Steering Committee) to read and to highlight potential discussion points/questions that relate to growing the economy of Newfoundlandand Labrador, to stimulate discussion at the symposium. The selected individuals/teams may be requested to revise their submissions and then to prepare PowerPoint presentations to be delivered at the symposium.

The symposium will provide for a cross-section of stakeholders to review, debate and discuss the approaches, research and presentations, to inform their respective efforts, and to support the setting of strategic priorities for economic development in Newfoundlandand Labrador. In addition, CORDS will conduct four pre-symposium regional sessions in partnership with the Regional Economic Development Boards (REDBs) to achieve a broader consultation. A symposium report or publication will be produced by CORDS and the PPRC, using the information from both the symposium and the pre-symposium sessions, which will serve as a valuable input for the development agendas of all stakeholders.

Deadline for submission of 2-page proposals: July 26

Notification of successful submissions: July 30

Deadline for submission of draft papers / presentations: August 31

Deadline for revised paper / presentation and draft

PowerPoint slides: September 13

Please submit both an electronic and a hard copy of the proposal.

Travel, accommodations and expenses for participation of presenters in the symposium will be covered.

For further information or clarification contact:

David Vardy, interim director, PPRC

Phone: (709) 737-4311

e-mail: dvardy@mun.ca

Ann Murrin, research assistant, PPRC / CORDS

Phone: (709) 737-2120

e-mail: amurrin@mun.ca

For further information on the symposium please visit CORDS Website at: www.mun.ca/cords, or contact: Dave Vardy, interim director, PPRC at 737-4311, dvardy@mun.ca or Ann Murrin, research assistant, PPRC / CORDS at 737-2120, amurrin@mun.ca.