Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly:

Our province's oil and gas industry turned an important corner on November 17, 1997, when Hibernia First Oil transformed Newfoundland and Labrador into an oil-producing province

In the months ahead, My Government will build on these abilities by announcing a new initiative, in partnership with the Government of Canada, that will provide small business

While the urgency of present circumstances dictates that priority must be given to the economic challenges facing the Province, My Government remains firmly committed to addressing

While the recent election provided my Government with a general mandate to continue its policy of managing the financial affairs of the Province in a responsible manner, it also gave

In this regard, My Government believes that Canada has a national identity more than the sum of its parts; that every citizen is equal to every other citizen; that every province

As the biggest business and largest employer in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Government itself will be decentralized to the extent that it is feasible and appropriate,

My Government is committed to continue this course of action until resource ownership and control rest with the people of the Province and the benefits of their resources flow

My Government has taken decisive action to strengthen our economy in the knowledge that the continued economic growth of Newfoundland will