Today in the House of Assembly, MHA for Twillingate-Fogo and Opposition Critic for Fisheries & Aqua-culture Gerry Reid, asked Fisheries Minister Trevor Taylor if the crab license presently issued to New Ferolle will be transferred to the St. Anthony processing facility.  Minister Taylor refused to make any commitment to the present license holder, or the residents of New Ferolle.

 The exchange in the House of Assembly is as follows;

 MR. REID: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the minister talks about his arm=s-length licensing board, but the minister actually said himself that, that board will report to him, and he doesn=t have to live by that decision.

I ask the minister today to stand in this House and make a commitment that, regardless of what happens in New Ferolle, that license will not be transferred out of there.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Labrador Affairs.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. TAYLOR: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The dealings between New Ferolle and anybody are a matter of a private business arrangement. At this point, Mr. Speaker, we have had no indication from anybody that they want to transfer any license. Even if we did, we are not in a position to be able to do it. I have no intentions of transferring either license from New Ferolle to anywhere or from anywhere else to New Ferolle, Mr. Speaker. When that comes up, somebody will have to deal with it, if it comes up.

Mr. Doyle, at this point, if the license were issued, would get the license, unless there is an arrangement otherwise between Mr. Doyle and some other company or some other operator, Mr. Speaker. At this point, anything would be speculative and hypothetical, that the member is talking about, and I am not going to deal with speculation, Mr. Speaker