In line with the tradition of traveling out into the “colony” to present a new district announcement, Municipal and District Minister Sigbjørn Gjelsvik came today to Sølvane gard in Kandal in Nordfjord. In 2019, municipal minister Monica Mæland (H) was on a similar errand in Finnsnes in Troms. – Those who think that this is a message with many measures and millions will be very disappointed, she said. Four years later, the new “Gjelsvik message” contains many measures and targets, if not so many concrete permissions. Among the more ambitious goals is for the population to increase in district municipalities. – People should be able to live a good life regardless of where in Norway they live. In order to achieve that, we, who govern the country, must consider the districts in all the policies we make, says Gjelsvik. In 2020, the Demographic Committee warned that District Norway could become “an old home in scenic surroundings”. – It is a hairy goal news commentator Lars Nehru Sand about the message: – District politics is important. When the Center Party is in government, there is an extra dimension because it is natural to measure the party and the government extra by which election promises are fulfilled. – It is a daunting goal to increase housing in the least populous district municipalities. Urbanization and centralization are global megatrends that are difficult to reverse with national policy. There are many forces that must work together to turn this around, it is very exciting and measurable if the government achieves this goal. – Giving municipalities more power in land matters is an understandable but not uncontroversial measure. When the climate crisis and the nature crisis are to be solved, there are probably many who think that it must be thought of more holistically than locally in spatial policy. At the same time, it is precisely regulatory policy and local room for action that are important in many places. – No one should be told by society that they should hang the hook on the door and turn off the light. We must give our local communities development, says Minister for Municipalities and Districts Sigbjørn Gjelsvik. Photo: Brit Jorunn Svanes / news – More freedom in land policy Furthermore, put the message up to the effect that the municipalities should have more freedom in land policy. The measure has a sting against those who believe that more central management is crucial to keep local temptations and business interests “at bay”. – Much of the spatial policy has been shaped with a background in the largest cities. In many places, the challenge is not great pressure, but getting people to settle down and create activity, says Gjelsvik. He adds that the message builds on “previous victories” such as free ferries to island communities and halving the maximum price of plane tickets on the regional FOT routes from 2024. The message raises the problem of increased flight prices, but does not come with concrete proposals or more money. – What we are most aware of is the need for greater freedom in land policy. I look forward to greater freedom in this area, says Jenny Følling (Sp), who is mayor of Sunnfjord municipality. She adds: – And we welcome green industrial promotion. We have surplus power, and should be able to focus on green industrial workplaces. – What we know most about the need for greater freedom in land policy. I look forward to greater freedom in this area, says Jenny Følling (Sp), who is mayor of Sunnfjord municipality. Photo: NTB Alta will remain in the action zone Other measures in the district report: NOK 362 million to ensure everyone’s access to high-speed broadband during 2025. The action zone for Nord-Troms and Finnmark must be prioritized and viewed as a region, not just individual municipalities. The same applies to the mountain regions in Hedmark and Oppland and Setesdalen. The measure zone will remain as it is today. Alta will not be taken out, as some wish. Greater investment in rural development agreements, beyond the current trial schemes. The message does not mention exact amounts. Increase the loan framework for Husbanken to contribute to more housing construction in rural Norway. In the budget settlement, the loan limit for the Husbanken was increased by NOK 3 billion. Notification of housing registration in 2024, which will adjust for market failure and losses from new construction. In line with the tradition of traveling out into the “colony” to present a new district report, Municipal and District Minister Sigbjørn Gjelsvik came today to Sølvane gard in Gloppen in Nordfjord Photo: Brit Jorunn Svanes / news – This is razor thin Another key word is green industrial lift , decentralized education system and redistribution through the income system. The government wants to “strengthen” this, but is not precise about how and to what extent. – This is razor thin. This is a government that is not keeping up with the times. District Norway deserves better, says Alfred Bjørlo (V). – A vibrant business community with strong local ownership is the number one objective for a successful district policy. Here, the government fails completely, especially in tax policy, and business policy is significantly absent from the report. In the preparation for the report, 14 input meetings have been held around the country and four digital meetings where participants from public and private companies have been able to give their input. The report also builds on three different district-oriented findings that came under the Solberg government. A District Report (“Living local communities for the future”), a report from the Demography Committee and a report from the District Industry Committee. Reactions to the message Mari Holm Lønseth, Høgre – It’s all well and good with a district message, but it doesn’t make up for the anti-district policy the government is pursuing. Large tax increases in a short time have led to a freeze in investment in the districts. The hiring ban has made it more difficult for several district workplaces. And hundreds of millions are spent on creating new county councils, without it solving any problems or providing better services to the residents. We cannot decide where people should live. But we can facilitate growth, attractiveness and increase the desire to live in the districts. Therefore, the right will make it easier to create more jobs, open up more decentralized jobs in the state, invest in infrastructure and give local democracy more power over its own land. Alfred Bjørlo, Liberal Party – The report lacks concrete policy for what we know works: Flexible job opportunities, a stronger state and municipal professional environment for young people who have completed education – and good framework conditions for the business world. Now they miss all this, and instead turn rural Norway into a kind of second-rate cowboy country where you should be allowed to build as you want everywhere and manage yourself – in small municipalities where development is on the spot. The young people’s answer to this SP fantasy will be simple: move into modern urban communities with a larger professional environment, better local environmental policy (intensified development rather than scattered “cowboy land”) – and stay there. Helge André Njåstad, FRP – What do the districts have to show after two years with the Center Party and Gjelsvik at the helm? Yes, cuts in transport projects, increased taxes, a coastal-hostile salmon tax and high-price subsidies for hydropower to name a few. These are not measures that contribute to value creation, employment and – yes – putting the whole of Norway into use as the Center Party spent the entire election campaign talking about. The Progress Party wishes to play on a team with the districts. That’s why we invested in transport, cut taxes, said no to the salmon tax and the premium subsidy, obtained a majority for the further establishment of government jobs in important district municipalities, and also strengthened the merkur scheme so that district shops can more easily survive. This is district politics as usual. – This is razor thin. This is a government that is not keeping up with the times. District Norway deserves better, says Alfred Bjørlo (V). Photo: NTB
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The government wants to reverse the exodus from the villages – news Vestland
