The Land
There are places on this earth that continue to live on inside of you. Places that drift magically in and out of your consciousness when you least expect them, but often times when you need them most.
Places like the many tickles and coves, guts and bays where brightly painted saltbox houses of sunflower yellow, lime green, and aquamarine cling to the cliffs. And remind you that houses are characters too, deserving of more than an unremarkable shade of beige.
Where the stories, tales, and traditions come with an abundance of old world charm, coloured by Irish, English, French, and ancient Aboriginal influences. A legacy of where we come from and how we came to be.
Long after you’ve left this place, as you sit down for a meal of ‘frozen this,’ or ‘take-out that,’ you’ll fondly remember the time you courageously lapped up a dish of cod tongues with scrunchions, or doughboys with moose stew, over lively conversations with people from places like Cupids, Hearts Desire, Paradise, and Sweet Bay. And forever after, a laugh just isn’t the same if sore ribs and a full belly don’t come with it, part and parcel.
Because if anything, this much is true: once you’ve travelled here, you’ll never again be far from the edge of the world. For history has proven that, like a barnacle fastened to the hull of a tall ship, this place, and all of its wonders big and small, has a tendency to stick to you long after you set sail.
Economy
In 2005 the gross domestic product (GDP) of Newfoundland and Labrador was approximately fourteen billion dollars.[27] Service industries accounted for over $8 billion with financial services, health care and public administration being the top three contributors. Other significant industries are mining, oil production and manufacturing. The total workforce in 2005 was 215,000 people.[27] Per capita GDP in 2006 was 47,520, higher than the national average and second only to Alberta out of Canadian provinces. The GDP in Newfoundland and Labrador surged 9.1 per cent in 2007, nearly three times the rate of its growth in 2006.
Traditional industries include mining, logging, fishery and forest-based industries (sawmills and paper mills).
Mining and oil production
Mines in Labrador, the iron ore mine at Wabush/Labrador City, and the new nickel mine in Voisey's Bay produced a total of $2.5 billion worth of ore in 2006. A new mine at Duck Pond (30 kilometers (18 mi) south of the now-closed mine at Buchans), started producing copper, zinc, silver and gold in 2007 and prospecting for new ore bodies continues.[28] Mining accounted for 3.5% of the provincial GDP in 2006.[27] The province produces 55% of Canada’s total iron ore.[29] Quarries producing dimension stone such as slate and granite, account for less than $10 million worth of material per year.[30]
Oil production from offshore oil platforms on Hibernia, White Rose Terra Nova oil fields on the Grand Banks was 110 million barrels which contributed 15% of the provinces GDP in 2006. Total production from the Hibernia field from 1997 to 2006 was 733 million barrels with an estimated value of $36 billion. This will increase with the inclusion of the latest project, Hebron. Remaining reserves are estimated at almost 2 billion barrels as of December 31, 2006. Exploration for new reserves is ongoing.[27]
On April 8, 2009 another oil discovery was announced. StatoilHydro announced that they were making plans to make an application for a Significant Discovery License over the coming months, it revealed that during deepwater drilling in an area about 500 kilometres east-northeast of St. John's "hydrocarbons were encountered".[31] Just months later on June 16, 2009 Danny Williams announced a tentative agreement to expand the Hibernia Oil Field. The government negotiated a 10-per-cent equity stake in the Hibernia South expansion which will add an estimated $10 billion to Newfoundland and Labrador's treasury.[32]
Fishing and aquaculture
The fishing industry remains an important part of the provincial economy, employing 26,000 and contributing over $440 million to the GDP. The combined harvest of fish such as cod, haddock, halibut, herring and mackerel was 150,000 tonnes (165,000 tons) valued at about $130 million in 2006. Shellfish, such as crab, shrimp and clams, accounted for 195,000 tonnes (215,000 tons) with a value of $316 million in the same year. The value of products from the seal hunt was $55 million.[27]
Aquaculture is a new industry for the province, which in 2006 produced over 10,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon, mussels and steelhead trout worth over $50 million.[27]
Manufacturing
Newsprint is produced by one paper mill, Kruger operates a mill in Corner Brook with a capacity of 420,000 tonnes (462,000 tons) per year. A second mill existed in Grand Falls which had a capacity of 210,000 tonnes (230,000 tons) per year but after a century of operation the mill closed in March 2009. The value of newsprint exports varies greatly from year to year, depending on the global market price. Lumber is produced by numerous mills in Newfoundland.
Apart from seafood processing, paper manufacture and oil refining,[33] manufacturing in the province consists of smaller industries producing food,[34] brewing and other beverage production, and footwear.[35]
Agriculture
Agriculture in Newfoundland is limited to areas south of St. John's, near Deer Lake and in the Codroy Valley. Potatoes, rutabagas, known locally as "turnips", carrots and cabbage are grown for local consumption. Poultry, eggs are also produced. Wild blueberries, partridgeberries (lingonberries) and bakeapples (cloudberries) are harvested commercially and used in jams and wine making.[36] Dairy production is also another huge part of the Newfoundland Agriculture Industry.
Tourism
Tourism is a significant part of the economy. In 2006 nearly 500,000 non-resident tourists visited Newfoundland and Labrador, spending an estimated $366 million.[27]
For a more detailed report please visit: http://www.economics.gov.nl.ca/