The Provincial Government launched the development of a Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador on June 5, 2008. With a significant commitment of $1.3M, the Province initiated a bold and innovative process to engage young people and seek their help in identifying the policies and actions that would make Newfoundland and Labrador a province of choice for young people to live and work, now and in the future.

Youth Engagement Process

A 19-member Youth Advisory Panel was established to provide advice and help guide the development of the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy. Members of the Panel represent all areas of the province and youth from very diverse backgrounds. Throughout the process, this dynamic group of young adults demonstrated their strong interest and commitment to the province's future in voluntarily committing their valuable time and insights to support the Strategy development. Members of the Panel are listed in Annex A. Visit the Youth Advisory Panel on Facebook.

The Provincial Government also secured the services of the Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) to undertake an extensive youth engagement process with young people throughout the province, as well as those away. It was recognized that the Strategy needed to reflect the ideas, issues, and priorities of young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to ensure its success. To achieve these results, the CPRN implemented a Deliberative Dialogue process to engage young people and integrally involve them in defining the issues and identifying potential solutions to support the development of the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy.

Throughout the summer of 2008 the CPRN worked with the Youth Advisory Panel to define issues related to out-migration and creating a province of choice that would guide discussions with young people during the Deliberative Dialogue process. During this period, sixteen young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were also trained as facilitators to support the process. Annex B lists young facilitators.

In early Fall 2008, 484 young people from the province participated in a series of 13 intensive, day-long Deliberative Dialogue sessions that were designed to generate detailed insight into the values, considerations, choices and trade-offs they take into account when making decisions about where to live and work. The sessions were held throughout the province, as well as one session in Alberta and one in Ontario. A summary of the findings from these sessions are outlined in the CPRN's Synthesis Report. Annex C lists all of the youth participants in the sessions.

The CPRN concluded the youth engagement process by hosting a provincial Youth Summit in St. John's on November 14 and 15, 2008. One hundred and eighty participants from the Deliberative Dialogue sessions were invited to review findings from the sessions and to work towards reaching concensus on recommendations for public policy directions that would help make Newfoundland and Labrador a province of choice.

During the Summit, young people also had the opportunity to present and discuss their recommendations with government, business, labour and community leaders. The outcomes of the Summit are reflected in the CPRN's Summit Report.

The CPRN submitted their final report "Policy Actions Report: Making Newfoundland and Labrador a Province of Choice for Young People" in September 2009. The report outlines 50 recommended directions for the Government's consideration in developing policies and actions for youth retention and attraction. These recommendations reflect the ideas and priorities identified by young people during the engagement process as well as CPRN's own expertise and related background research.

External Partners and Government

Employers, labour organizations, educational institutions, community agencies, individuals, and other key partners throughout the province also had opportunities to inform and contribute to the Strategy development through face-to-face meetings, presentations, written submissions, and an online survey. Over 870 individuals and organizations took advantage of these opportunities. Annex D lists external partners that contributed to the Strategy development.

The Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment (HRLE) led the Strategy development under the direction of a nine-member Ministerial Committee. A Deputy Ministers' Committee and Interdepartmental Working Group were also established to ensure key Departments were actively involved in the Strategy development and regularly informed of findings arising out of the youth engagement process. Annex E lists members of the committees.

"Creating A Province of Choice: A Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador" lays the foundation for building a new, long-term partnership between youth, the Provincial Government, and stakeholders that will help ensure Newfoundland and Labrador fulfills its potential for a bright, prosperous future. It represents a joint effort between the Province and the Youth Advisory Panel to ensure the insights and priorities of young Newfoundland and Labradorians are reflected in a policy framework that will help make Newfoundland and Labrador a Province of Choice for young people to live in and work, now and in the future.

Solidly grounded in the ideas, values and priorities of young people, the Strategy provides a living framework of eight policy directions that will help guide investments for youth retention and attraction over the long-term. Not surprisingly, education, training, and employment are among the top priorities for young people in Newfoundland and Labrador. Other key priorities and issues for youth include those related to strengthening youth engagement processes, quality of life and access to regional services, the environment, diversity, and Labrador.

Over the next three years (2009/2010 to 2011/2012) the Provincial Government will invest over $14M towards 41 new initiatives outlined in "Creating A Province of Choice: A Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador". These initiatives build on current directions and investments to support the Strategy's policy directions and will be implemented in partnership with youth, employers, educational institutions, and other community partners. The initiatives are also designed to address key transition periods for youth that strongly influence their decisions about their careers and training, where they will live, work and raise their families, and the roles they will assume in their communities. These include initiatives to support:

• school-aged youth as they explore and learn about their options for the future and build the skills and values they need to succeed as young adults;
• young people as they leave high school to pursue their post-secondary education and training goals and enter the labour market to pursue their careers; and
• young adults as they begin to establish their career and permanent roots in their communities, start their families, and pursue their life goals.

The remainder of this document provides an overview of the Strategy's eight policy directions and initiatives as well as a brief summary of the implementation plan. The description of each policy direction includes goals, key considerations that emerged for youth during the engagement process, examples of supporting Provincial Government initiatives and directions, related recommendations from the CPRN Final Report, and new initiatives for moving forward. The CPRN Final Report provides more detailed descriptions of youth priorities and issues that informed the Strategy development.

Please visit www.youth.gov.nl.ca to learn about the latest Strategy developments, to access related resources, and to find out about opportunities to get involved.

Policy Directions

DIRECTION 1: YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

Strengthening our capacity for youth engagement in public policy development, community planning, and democratic processes

DIRECTION 2: POSITIONING AND PROMOTING NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

Increasing awareness about the opportunities and benefits of living and working in Newfoundland and Labrador and increasing access to information about available services for youth

DIRECTION 3: EDUCATION

Helping to strengthen youth's access to affordable, quality education opportunities

DIRECTION 4: EMPLOYMENT AND JOB CREATION

Increasing access to quality jobs and workplaces among youth

DIRECTION 5: QUALITY OF LIFE AND ACCESS TO REGIONAL SERVICES

Engaging young people to help maintain and strengthen the quality of life and increase access to services across all regions and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador

DIRECTION 6: DIVERSITY AND CULTURE

Promoting and celebrating our culture and diversity

DIRECTION 7: LABRADOR

Strengthening Labrador's role in the province

DIRECTION 8: INCENTIVES TO STAY OR RETURN

Increasing access to incentives for young people to stay in, or move to, Newfoundland and Labrador to live and work

The framework of policy directions outlined in the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy is based on youth values and priorities for creating a Province of Choice for young people to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador. They reflect young people's vision for this province and as such, they will help guide investments and program developments to support youth retention and attraction over the short and long-term.

Oversight and Implementation

A Ministers' Committee will oversee the Strategy implementation and progress. This committee will be chaired by the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment who is also the Minister Responsible for Youth Engagement.
The Office for Youth Engagement will provide lead support to the Ministers' Committee and oversee the day-to-day implementation of the Strategy.

A Deputy Ministers' Committee and Interdepartmental Working Group will also support the Ministers' Committee and Strategy implementation.
The Youth Partnership Forum will be engaged to provide advice, guidance, and feedback to support the ongoing implementation and development of the Strategy.

Business, labour, and education partners will also support the Strategy implementation through existing partnerships such as the Labour Market Committee of the Strategic Partnership and in leading various Strategy initiatives.

Reporting and Accountability

The Ministers' Committee will provide annual progress reports to Government and the public on the implementation of the Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy.

The Strategy will be evaluated during the third year of implementation to determine impacts and to guide future investments.

"The future of Newfoundland and Labrador really does lie in the hands of the youth. The Provincial government listened to what youth had to say and in turn policy will be made. We are at the beginning of major changes and opportunity in this province and this strategy will influence the lives of young people for years to come."

Youth Advisory Panel Member

"Since the beginning of this strategy, I have seen perceptions transform, barriers fall, and change happen..This entire process has been about showing the young people of our province that not only do they matter, but people do in fact care about how they feel about their province, not just to others, but even to themselves."

Youth Advisory Panel Member

"We are looking to show youth that they have support to create a safe home in NL. This strategy has opened many alleyways for youth, facilitating youth in the workforce, student aid, healthy living, and family life. ..youth are needed in political decisions and that they have been given the tools to take charge and turn Newfoundland and Labrador into a province of choice."

Youth Advisory Panel Member

"Over the last year, we have listened to youth from all corners of our province. We have heard their passion for Newfoundland and Labrador and their desire to stay home. They helped us create a solution to make Newfoundland and Labrador a choice for youth!"

Youth Advisory Panel Member

"I know all of these ideas can't happen overnight but if we do work on the steps to starting to implement these ideas, they can happen within time..."

Youth Participant

"Seeing the passion that the young people of this province have on these important issues. This was a time we can be proud of.knowing that we produced the seeds that our government may use to change our dear province for the better. To make Newfoundland and Labrador a province of choice."

Youth Participant

""I am excited that Newfoundland and Labrador, as a young province, looks toward their youth to develop the future.With the support of the province and the young people we can build a future here in NL."

Youth Participant

"This [youth engagement process] has also taught me all the great reasons why people (especially us youth) should stay and live in Newfoundland."

Youth Participant