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Home  Virtual Exhibits Resettlement Documents Outline of Policy, ca. 1965
Outline of Policy, ca. 1965
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NEWFOUNDLAND DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
Fisheries Household Resettlement Division
OUTLINE OF POLICY REGARDING RESETTLEMENT OF ISOLATED COMMUNITIES
For a number of years the Government of Newfoundland has been assisting people of smaller and more isolated settlements to move to more favoured communities especially to places which seem to have a greater economic growth.
In April 1965 and following the last sitting of the House of Assembly a
new Resettlement Program was introduced and approved by an Act of the Legislature of the Province. This was followed by an agreement between the Federal and Provincial Governments where both have agreed to assist in meeting the cost of the program. A committee was appointed known as The Fisheries Household Resettlement Committee for Newfoundland whose main purpose is to recommend on overall policies. The Program itself is to be administered by a Division of the Provincial Department of Fisheries and is to be known as The Household Resettlement Division.
If there is sufficient interest in settling, a Public Meeting should be called to discuss the matter thoroughly and if it appears that a majority favours resettling a committee of not more than three should be elected to circulate a petition and obtain the consent of the householders to resettle. This Community Committee will be responsible for providing information to the Division and passing on information from the Division to the householders in the community. A Petition to resettle requires not less than 90% of the householders of a community and after completion, the petition, together with a completed form covering the new community or communities where the householders intend to resettle, should be forwarded to the Director of Household Resettlement Division.
The Minister may approve in principle the resettlement of any isolated community. Before any committment [sic] can be made to individuals the Household Resettlement Committee must obtain full information on the community to which householders decide to resettle. It must be clearly understood that only householders who move to communities approved by the Household Resettlement Committee will receive payment under the Program.
The Director of Household Resettlement will forward a supply of applications for assistance to the Chairman of the Local Committee and he will be responsible for passing an application to each householder to be completed and submitted to the Director of Household Resettlement Division after the householder has resettled in the new community.
The amount of assistance that may he granted to each eligible householder is set forth as follows:
1. A direct grant of $1000.00 to the head of the household
2. An additional grant of $200.00 on behalf of each member of the household
3. The actual travel and removal expenses, but not to include the cost of replacement of real or immovable property.
(This must be accompanied by receipts showing expenses incurred.)
Householders who wish to move or dismantle and move their dwellings or other structures may do so but no financial assistance will be provided for that purpose. Householders may use funds provided as outlined previously for such a purpose.
Where a fisherman intends to return and prosecute the fishery from his former premises which could include his former dwelling permission may be granted upon application to the Minister.
It should be clearly understood that after a community has been abandoned all land including structures return to the Crown.
In summary we would like to say the consent to move will continue to be voluntary on the part of the householder. It must originate with a community effort in the form of a petition. Guidance and direction will be offered once a community decides to move.
In the foregoing paragraphs we have outlined the main features of the Act and Regulations; but as the program develops and with the full implementation of the Act and Regulations other phases of the program may be added. We trust that if you plan to resettle in a new community you will not hesitate to avail of any services that this Division may be able to offer.
K.M. HARNUM
DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES HOUSEHOLD RESETTLEMENT DIVISION.
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