Fisheries minister’s admission troubling says Opposition   

Marshall Dean, MHA for the District of the Straits-White Bay North, says admission by the provincial minister of fisheries today that he had not contacted the federal minister to advise of government’s fishery research initiative is worrisome given the significant role Ottawa plays in the fishery.

In response to a caller’s question on an Open Line show, the minister admitted that there had been no formal dialogue or heads-up to the federal government on the province’s decision to boost independent fishery science in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“On the one hand the minister and the premier have stated they would welcome a federal partnership if Ottawa was so inclined; and yet, on the other hand, they had not had discussions on this issue to bring them onside  or even provided Minister Shea the courtesy  of apprising her of this direction, “says Dean. “How can this government expect a spirit of cooperation and support on such decision-making matters when there is such little effort by this government to build a partnership with Ottawa?”

Dean points out that while he supports government taking initiatives on any fisheries matters, the reality is that there are two levels of government involved in managing and directing the industry.  “The approach by the Williams government to “shame” Ottawa into fishery-related investments is not the right way to go.   The province also failed to engage the federal government when it began the M.O.U process last year, and many are fearful this may jeopardize its ultimate success.

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