April 4th, 2006

Honourable Peter McKay P.C., M.P.
Minister Responsible for
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
60 Queen Street, 7th floor
P.O. Box 1665, Station “B”
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5R5

Dear Minister McKay:

First I offer you my congratulations on your appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister Responsible for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). While the challenges will be many and varied, I am confident you are up to the task.

I am writing on behalf of the Bonavista Historic Townscape Foundation of Bonavista in my riding of Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor. This high profile economic development group has written to you, a copy of which is enclosed, requesting your assistance in having their Garrick Theatre re-development proposal, submitted under the Innovative Communities Fund, fast-tracked and approved.

I fully support this very important economic development initiative. ACOA has contributed a significant amount of funding to complete the exterior of this structure; completion of the interior would facilitate increased and much needed economic development opportunities on the Bonavista Peninsula.

The Bonavista Peninsula region of my riding is an area that experienced severe economic decline following the 1992 northern cod moratorium. Many local residents, who depended on the cod fishery as a means of making a living, have already out migrated to other regions of Canada. In recent years the economy has stabilized somewhat, although at a much lower economic level of activity. With the support of ACOA and other funding agencies, the local economy has been diversified and tourism has augmented the thriving snow crab industry which has provided employment for those remaining in the area.

On March 30th, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced the 2006 Snow Crab Management Plan and the total allowable catch has been reduced significantly with a much shorter fishing season. Many of the crab plant workers and harvesters in the Bonavista area will not qualify for Employment Insurance. The short-term jobs the Garrick Theatre re-development proposal will provide during the construction phase and the economic activity generated during the tourism season will assist with long term economic stability in the area.

In light of the millions that have already been invested in tourism infrastructure in the Bonavista Peninsula area, it is imperative that ACOA now complete the job it started. To deny the completion of the Garrick Theatre that has had tremendous support from local residents and other economic development groups, would be unjust; previous ACOA funding to complete the exterior of the building would prove to have been a waste of taxpayers’ money.

I strongly urge you to support this very important economic development initiative to assist this historic part of my riding in acquiring economic stability. I look forward to receiving your support for this proposal.

Sincerely,

Scott Simms MP
Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor