Many people have heard about the 'Fogo Process', but are not sure what it means. To understand the Fogo Process, one must look back to Fogo Island around the time of confederation.

Joseph R. Smallwood was Premier of Newfoundland when the province joined Canada in 1949. At that time, the provincial and federal governments had some firm plans for outport Newfoundland. In particular, they wanted to decrease the number of small, isolated communities in the province. Fogo Island was one of their many targets for resettlement. When the 1960's arrived, the future of Fogo Island was very uncertain.

When the resettlement plan was in action, Premier Smallwood and his officials visited the island and gave the people three choices. They could stay on the island and wait for it to slowly die, they could move away while the resettlement program was offered, or they could stay and build their own economy.