Resource Committee — Department of Development and Rural Renewal is to attempt to foster economic development and rural renewal in each of twenty economic zones in the Province. The mandate is pursued through services and programs delivered within two business lines, namely: the promotional regional economic development focusing on the twenty economic zones; and, secondly, fostering development and growth of small- to medium-size business enterprises throughout the Province. Mr. Chairman, I think there are significant economic challenges that remain in the Province, especially in rural areas. It is clear, however, that over the past four years the efforts of the department and the efforts of government are seeing real results. The economy in the Province is growing and is becoming more diversified. Employment is increasing and unemployment is falling, albeit somewhat slowly; because, as everybody knows, when you increase the employment opportunities in an economy the participation rate of people goes up. Besides that, we still do have significant areas of the Province, a number of sectors in a number of areas of the Province, that are not moving in the way that we would like. I could name five or six of them this morning if I wanted to, but I don't believe that is necessary unless members want me to. I think it is also important for us to do away with another myth, and that is that all of the growth is confined to St. John's and the Avalon Peninsula. Statistics Canada - I ask you to note that it was Statistics Canada and not a government report - reported that 10,700 new jobs were created in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1999. That was a 5.5 per cent increase and yet, as I said to you before, our unemployment rate did not drop by that amount because of - I think it was a factor of close to a 3 per cent increase in the participation rate. I think it is important to note that 9,400 or 88 per cent of these jobs were created outside the St. John's area. If you want to sa