Three New Departments Announced at Formal Swearing-in Ceremony
Several major shifts in government departments were announced by Premier Robert Ghiz today.
“The changes in Ministerial duties and departmental responsibilities reflect the need to improve the way services and programs are provided to Islanders,” the Premier said.
“In particular, I believe the new emphasis on rural development will assist many communities to thrive in a changing world. In particular, I am confident that this approach will offer many more Islanders the opportunity to stay within their home communities – and still participate in a changing economy.”
As a result of the changes, three Ministers were sworn by the Lieutenant-Governor to new responsibilities:
∙ The Honourable Allan Campbell is now the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development.
∙ The Honourable Richard Brown is now the Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning.
∙ The Honourable Gerard Greenan is now the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.
“The decision to blend responsibilities for early childhood development with education makes perfect sense,” the Premier said. “The team that I have the honour to lead is very serious about improving the supports provided to families as they prepare their children for the education system. Government recognizes that education begins at home, and the new Department will ensure that there is a high level of continuity between early childhood and school programs.”
Finally, the new Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning will help government to sharply focus on the province’s inherent economic strengths.
“As I have said in the past, Prince Edward Island is not rich in natural resources like minerals or oil. Instead, our greatest resource is our people,” the Premier said.
“The new Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning will provide government with the tools to invest in Islanders, whether that is through the education system or through appropriate assistance to innovative new businesses.”
Over the course of the upcoming legislative session, further details on government’s specific policy direction will be announced. The Speech from the Throne will be read April 4th, 2008.
“The Speech will clearly spell out government’s plans for the next several years – and offer a significant amount of detail about the changes that will take place. Of course, the budget will also offer government the opportunity to clearly demonstrate its plans. I am also looking forward to the release of a new economic strategy, which will help to guide decision making about the investment of public resources into areas designed to improve the Island’s economic performance in the years and decades to come,” the Premier said.
BACKGROUNDER
BACKGROUND ON THE ESTABLISHEMENT OF THREE NEW DEPARTMENTS
Introduction:
As government prepares for a new session of the Legislative Assembly, several major changes have been announced to three Departments.
The strategic priorities of government will be to focus on:
• Developing an innovation-based economy;
• Building a stronger, more vibrant and responsive education system with an emphasis on early childhood development;
• A commitment to building sustainable rural communities that rely on the inherent strengths of rural Prince Edward Island.
There are three new Departments involved in the current phase:
• The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development
• The Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning
• The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES, AQUACULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Minister Responsible: Honourable Allan Campbell
Most Islanders have recognized for many years that much more must be done to enhance and improve rural Prince Edward Island.
The province's traditional economic strengths spring from rural Prince Edward Island. In keeping with government's commitment to our traditional industries, it is vitally important to integrate the role of our rural communities into the larger effort to improve the province's economy.
Departmental Mandate:
The mandate of the Department is to contribute to the growth of a sustainable, prosperous fishing and aquaculture industry, and to provide policy leadership in developing new approaches to rural community development, service delivery and employment programs - the majority of which are rural based.
Functions:
The Department will assume from the former Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture all staff and programs, and further, the Department will assume from the former Department of Development and Technology:
1. Community Development staff and programs
2. Access PEI
3. The Employment Development Agency
THE DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND ADVANCED LEARNING
Minister Responsible: Honourable Richard Brown
Prince Edward Island's greatest natural resource is its people. We have a long and proud history of innovation - and a population that is fiercely loyal to the province.
For that reason, substantial new investments will be made in the years to come, which will offer Islanders much greater access to educational opportunities in a changing economy.
The new Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning will blend the challenges of a changing economy with the province's capacity to promote post-secondary education, learning and training.
Over the next several weeks, government will release a major economic strategy which will modernize our economy to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Departmental Mandate:
The Innovation and Advanced Learning Department will foster and promote the development of the province's knowledge economy by integrating the innovation agenda with government's advanced learning activities; developing a pro-business investment climate and providing policy leadership and direction.
Functions:
The Department will assume from the former Department of Development and Technology:
1. Departmental Management: Support for the Minister's office
2. Labour Market Development: Policy leadership and support for existing labour market activities including the Labour Force Development component of the Employment Development Agency
3. Business Development Inc.
4. PEI Food Technology Centre
5. Population Secretariat
6. Island Investment Development Inc.
The Department will also assume from the former Department of Education continuing education and training, including policy responsibility for the University of Prince Edward Island, Holland College, Société éducative, apprenticeship, private post secondary training institutions, student assistance, adult education, literacy training and bursary programs.
Finally, the Department will assume from Provincial Treasury responsibility for the Lending Agency.
In 2009, the Department will assume responsibility for the Labour Market Development Agreement. The Minister will also be responsible for the Liquor Control Commission, Charlottetown Area Development Corporation and the Summerside Regional Development Corporation.
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Minister Responsible: Honourable Gerard Greenan
Government recognizes that there is a strong link between early childhood development and the school years.
In an effort to support Island families and children, it is appropriate to develop a greater continuum between the early childhood years and the formal education system.
The new Department will allow government to place more energy and focus on the educational development of Island children.
Departmental Mandate:
The Department will be responsible for focussing its efforts on advancing the quality of public education and integrating early childhood development for the long term benefit of the province's youth.
Functions:
The Department will assume from the former Department of Education:
1. Departmental Management
2. Finance and School Board Operations, including grants to School Boards, learning materials, program evaluation and student assessment
3. Technology in Education
4. Public Education, including the Task Force on Student Achievement, school development and Kindergarten.
5. English Programs, including human resource development in the school system, and grants related to elementary and secondary programs.
6. French Programs, including French first language, early and late immersion, core French and sot shared programs under the Official Languages in Education Agreement.
7. Student Support Services, including services for hearing impaired, special education, youth at risk, diversity and active healthy school initiatives.
The Department will assume from the Department of Social Services and Seniors all healthy child development program, including early childhood learning, childcare facilities, autism intervention, and the Healthy Child Development Strategy.
The Minister will continue to be responsible for the Office of Attorney General and the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.