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Percy Barrett, Liberal MHA for the District of Bellevue, wants provisions
put in place within the changes to the FPI Act that would ensure the company
is forced to keep its commitments to the people of Bonavista and Fortune.
"I have some very serious concerns that if we vote to give the company what
they want, there is no way of holding the company to the commitments they
have made," said Barrett. "The government needs to have these commitments or
some stronger security provisions put directly into the legislation we are
debating."
The Liberal MHA has moved an amendment to the legislation with the intent
of getting government to require the company to put a portion of the funds
raised through the Income Trust transaction into a special fund. This will
ensure the company has no way of getting out of the commitments they have
made.
"As it stands now government does not have adequate penalties to use
against FPI to ensure they keep their commitments. There are too many loose
ends with this piece of legislation. The company is not required to put
their valuable shellfish quotas up as security and, if the legislation is
passed, the company will be able to do pretty much what they want unless
changes are made."
Barrett says he is concerned about the whole process regarding these
changes to the FPI Act. "This company was established in the 1980s with a
significant infusion of taxpayers money and it was established through an
Act of the legislature, recognizing the importance of the fishery to rural
communities. We should not be moving hastily to give that up because I think
that initial purpose is still relevant today, maybe even more than when the
company was established. Rather than acting from fear, we should be moving
forward with confidence in our ability to create a fishing industry in this
province that can be competitive internationally. We must also recognize
that the people of this province are the owners of this fishing resource and
the workers are the people who built this company. The interests of
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians must also be served."
Reasoned amendment moved by Member for Bellevue:
Need for provision of to ensure commitments to Fortune and Bonavista are
kept
That all the words after the word "That" be deleted and the following
substituted therefor:
"This House declines to give second reading to Bill 41, an Act to Amend
the Fisheries Products International Limited Act, until provisions are made
so that the portion of the funds raised through an Income trust necessary to
fulfill commitments made by the Company to the communities of Fortune and
Bonavista can be placed in trust with government to ensure that these
commitments are kept." |