Opposition Private Members Motion addresses major fishery gap 

Marshall Dean, MHA for the District of The Straits-White Bay North and Opposition Critic for Fisheries, notes there is a serious gap in government’s response to the fishery crisis; and today, in the House of Assembly, he gave notice he will table a Private Members Motion on Wednesday to address this shortfall.

Dean’s motion calls on the House of Assembly to encourage government to launch an interim strategy and action plan that would deal with the fall-out from fishery restructuring leading up to the implementation of the MOU agreement and proposals. 

“The fishing industry is currently undergoing monumental challenges and changes and while it may be convenient for the fisheries minister to rely on an agreement that is not yet finalized, the reality is that people and communities are impacted now,” says Dean.   “These communities and plant workers do not have the luxury of waiting a year or two down the road.”

The MHA, together with Liberal Opposition leader Yvonne Jones, met today with a delegation from Jackson’s Arm, a community whose fish plant was abruptly closed last month putting some 120 plant workers out of work. “This community is devastated by this closure and rightly so; but it is just a precursor of what could happen to many communities once the MOU process has been implemented.

“What these displaced workers and affected communities require right now are meaningful supports including an Early Retirement Program, a Workers’ Adjustment Package, as well a Community Investments Initiative to ensure both people and the community they live in have a future here in our province.

View Private Member's Motion

- 30 -

Media Contact: 
Kim Ploughman | Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
Tel: (709) 729-4634
 

Private Members Motion

Interim Fishery Compensation & Support Program

Whereas there is a crisis in the fishing industry of our province;

And whereas government’s focused strategy to address these escalating problems has been to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with only two key players in the industry;

And whereas it has been nearly a year with no significant and practical progress on this MOU and there are concerns about its ultimate effectiveness;

And whereas the process does not include a community voice or the federal government;

And whereas the province failed to allocate any funding to launch strategies of the MOU process;

And whereas  restructuring is occurring now, including fish plants closing and license transfers occurring, affecting people’s livelihoods and the economic viability of rural communities;

Therefore, be it resolved that this House of Assembly encourages the provincial government to launch an interim program and action plan that would assist fish plant workers and communities affected, which would include an Early Retirement Package, a Workers Adjustment Program and a Community Investment Initiative to assist in this transitional process.