ACRE ANNOUNCES PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS

The Action Committee on the Rural Economy (ACRE) announced a series of public consultations today that will allow the group to discuss its latest recommendations with rural residents.

ACRE Chairperson Audrey Horkoff said the early December meetings give rural Saskatchewan an opportunity for input.

"Our subcommittees have done a tremendous amount of work to research and prepare the draft recommendations for the areas of Employment, Business Development, Crown Land and Infrastructure," Horkoff said. "These public meetings give us a chance to review the draft recommendations with rural residents before the recommendations are finalized for presentation to government."

As with the previous set of recommendations, Horkoff said these are sure to generate some discussion.

"If we really hope to turn the rural economy around, we need to make some tough choices. ACRE's recommendations give us a chance to make those choices ourselves – to tell government what we think will work best for rural Saskatchewan."

Horkoff said public feedback will be incorporated into the final recommendations ACRE presents to the Saskatchewan government in March of 2005. Rural residents will have five opportunities to discuss the recommendations:

December 2nd - Yorkton - Holiday Inn, 100 Broadway Street East
December 7th - Swift Current - Days Inn, Mobile Route 35, Hwy #1 East
December 8th - Unity - Legion Hall, 312 Main Street
December 9th - Tisdale - Rec Plex, Hanover Room, 800-101 St.
December 13th - Carlyle - Memorial Hall, 111 Main Street

All meetings will be held in the evening from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

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For More Information, Contact:

Audrey Horkoff ACRE Co-Chair Kamsack Phone: (306) 542-4472

Susan Lloyd Consultation Co-ordinator Regina Phone: (306) 787-4572