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Roland Butler, MHA for the District of Port De Grave, is calling on all MHAs
to support his Private Members Motion later today calling for custodial
management on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks. Butler says today’s
motion is timely and the support of all three parties in the House of
Assembly will send a strong message to Prime Minister Stephen Harper who is
visiting the province. "While in Opposition, Loyola Hearn and the Federal
Conservative Party introduced and passed a Private Members Motion in March
2004 on custodial management," said Mr. Butler. "Fisheries Minister Loyola
Hearn has been a strong supporter of custodial management, but since
becoming minister we have heard very little on this proposal. I am hoping
today’s debate will once again bring attention to this issue.
"Today’s debate will provide Members of our House of Assembly an
opportunity to send a message directly to the Prime Minister. Previous
debates have taken place in our legislature on this issue, however, today is
a unique circumstance in that the Prime Minister is in the province to hear
our concerns. Newfoundland and Labrador supports custodial management of our
fishery and I am hopeful that the federal government will follow through
with their previously stated support of this initiative.
"All three political parties in the House of Assembly rarely unanimously
agree on issues. I feel custodial management is one issue that we all
support and want implemented to protect our waters from foreign overfishing.
I am encouraging all MHAs to support today’s Private Members Motion and I am
hopeful our voices will be heard in Ottawa, especially by the prime
minister."
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