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Judy Foote, Opposition Critic for Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
and MHA for the District of Grand Bank, is calling upon Premier Williams to
pump up the passion on the fishery file. "The premier has shown
considerable interest in the oil and gas sector, yet has failed to
demonstrate as much involvement and concern for the fishery," says Foote.
"This lack of interest in and action on the fishery is affecting not only
our regions’ ability to survive the crisis its facing, but is allowing a
renewable valuable resource and its potential to fall by the wayside for
lack of concern and attention.
"Our premier accuses oil companies such as Exxon Mobil of holding our
province ransom. He fails to see the irony in these statements. His own
inaction on the fishery, such as allowing FPI to run roughshod over our
people, is creating a similar situation in fish_dependent communities like
those on the Burin Peninsula. His government is just as mandated to ensure
that we benefit from the fishery, as we should from our oil and gas
resources.
"Our fishing communities are wondering why Premier Williams is not
standing up for them. They want to know why he is not interested in moving
as aggressively on fishery issues. Not only is he not taking the lead on the
FPI file, which has created havoc in many communities, but he has failed to
advance the issues of custodial management, early retirement and joint
management of our fisheries with the federal government. He has invested an
insignificant amount of money into the recovery of cod, which could be one
of the bright lights for our future if it were given the attention it
deserves.
"The premier has become known as an individual consumed with big
projects. It seems his mind is set on oil, which we know is finite and the
benefits can only last for a limited time. The Premier does not have a
connection with the fishery or with rural Newfoundland and Labrador. This is
reflected in the low priority he has afforded the fishery portfolio. It’s
clear he would rather preside over oil than protect and enhance our
fisheries. When it comes to the fishery, he refers questions to his Minister
of Fisheries. However, questions relating to oil and gas are taken by the
premier instead of the Minister of Natural Resources. The premier has to be
reminded constantly that the fishery has been the mainstay of this
province’s economy, particularly in rural areas, and as important as our oil
and gas resources are, they will never replace the fishery in rural
Newfoundland and Labrador.
"The Premier has stated that the oil is not going anywhere and neither
are we. Well, the oil may be staying put, but I assure him that a great many
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who rely on a viable fishery, are doing
anything but staying."
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