MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand today to present a petition from the people on the Northern Peninsula, Mr. Speaker, in the New Ferolle area. Mr. Speaker, these individuals have submitted a petition, and obviously they are looking for answers on the condition and the sale of the fish processing licence that was issued for the plant in New Ferolle.

Mr. Speaker, these individuals, who did not work last year because that plant did not open, were under the impression that when the licence was given to the operator for $1, that operator would go in, would reopen the plant, and would process fish in that community.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member for the area is well aware of the issue, probably much more than I am, in terms of what is happening there, but this is a situation where these particular workers are afraid that again this year that plant will not open. If it does not open, the terms and conditions of licences in this Province would dictate that once the licence is dormant for a period of time that it would be revoked or it would be lost, and if that was to happen what would it mean for this particular community?

They really feel that they have no control over the situation as it is right now, that they are at the mercy of a processor that was given a licence and a plant for $1 and has not met the commitment of operating and providing for employment in the community, and if they continue to not operate and the plant lies dormant then what will happen to the licence. The community is afraid that the licence would be transferred out of that particular area, because it is a multi-species plant including a crab processing licence, and they are concerned.

Mr. Speaker, they have been petitioning the House of Assembly. They have been making calls to government offices with regard to this issue. I know they have made many calls to my office on this particular issue. I understand the minister says today that the operator says that he intends to operate, but he certainly has not given that assurance to the people in the community, that he intends to operate or what species he intends to buy.

Mr. Speaker, we know, because of the number of plants that has been shut down on the Northern Peninsula, and the number of plants that have not been opening in the past year, that small-boat fishermen are finding it harder and harder to have somewhere even to sell their catch these days. That is what is happening in a lot of these regions around the Province.

There is one thing about streamlining licences in the area, amalgamating plants and restructuring the industry, but you need to be cognizant of the fact that if you live in a certain area of this Province and you are a small-boat fisherman, and you are bringing in only a few pounds a day of a certain species, and there is no local plant in your area to buy or process, these people are really out of a job. They do not have a livelihood. I remember, Mr. Speaker, talking to fishermen even in the Cook’s Harbour area last year who did not have anywhere to sell any of their fish.

Mr. Speaker, this is an issue in New Ferolle; it has been going on for over a year. We are into the second year of the issue, and I ask the minister to work with this community, to work with the plant operator, to get this plant open, and, if not, to secure the licence for that community so that they can move on with a new operator and start processing fish in that community and put people back to work again.