Newfoundland and Labrador Product Development Strategy

- 122-barrier through negotiations, as it creates an inappropriate barrier to extending the programmingand seasons of operation of important provincial facilities.Nova Scotia recently enacted a new piece of legislation, the Volunteer Protection Act (December2002) designed to provide some protection for volunteers in the province. The Act provideslimited protection from civil lawsuits for volunteers working with non-profit organizations.Under the legislation, volunteers cannot be held personally liable when acting within the scopeof their responsibilities and when they are properly licensed, certified or authorized.Newfoundland and Labrador’s volunteers would benefit from a similar act.A Provincial Tourism Development AgencyWe propose the establishment of an agency to perform a number of vital roles, the primary focusbeing to support both natural history tourism programs and cultural/heritage tourism programs.Its functions, established in stages over time, would be approximately as follows:o Take over operational management of the Province’s parks, historic sites/museums,interpretive programs at selected ecological reserveso Advise government agencies with respect to capital grants to assist in the establishment,upgrading and expansion of qualified projects and programso Planning assistance for qualified projects/programso Technical advice and in-kind assistance for qualified projects/programso Coaching/mentoring on tourism related business practiceso Financial support for programming and interpretation at key natural/cultural attractions in theprovinceo Sponsorship of professional development programs in natural and culture heritage tourism,such as those proposed for the Centre of Excellence program discussed earlier.A Foundation In Future?We also recommend that consideration be given by the proposed agency to establishing afoundation in future to be able to tap into other forms of financial support, such as:o Fundraising to support natural and culture heritage tourism in the province, fromgovernment, citizens, corporations, philanthropic organizations and wealthy individuals (Onesuggestion offered was getting the federal government to gift the $15 million or so in annualdividends they receive from Hibernia to this purpose.)o Development of an endowment fund to provide annual operating grants for qualifiedprojects/programs, based on the submission by them of an acceptable business planThere is currently the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador whose role is to‘stimulate and understanding of and an appreciation for the architectural heritage of theprovince’, which is a most worthwhile initiative. However it is not what is being proposed herewhich is complementary but different to what they do, but broader in scope.THE ECONOMIC PLANNING GROUP of Canada Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism Product DevelopmentD. W. Knight Associates Strategy and Accommodation Needs Study