Jackson’s Arm plant workers deserve meaningful government support: Opposition

Marshall Dean, MHA for the District of the Straits-White Bay North and Opposition Critic for Fisheries, is calling on government to ensure plant workers affected by plant closures, like those at Jackson’s Arm, are provided with acceptable income stability to compensate for employment loss in the industry.

Dean questioned the minister of fisheries today in the Legislature on the abrupt plant closure in Jackson’s Arm and whether government was prepared to step forward with an offer for early retirement, a workers’ adjustment program, as well as investments to allow communities impacted by shut-downs an opportunity to diversify and attract new economic activity .

“The minister would not commit to any of these recommendations to soften the blow to these 120-150 displaced workers and their community,” says Dean. “There has to be a better plan of action than what government is currently offering, for we see in places like Englee in my district that remain without adequate government support to ensure their long-term survival.  It is not acceptable for these communities not to have some form of government assisted strategy and action plan.”

Dean also asked the minister whether he has secured a written commitment from the plant owners that the facility would reopen next year. “Clearly, the minister has not requested this commitment and, therefore, these plant workers have no reassurances of what the future holds for them next year.

“I was also dismayed to hear the minister supporting a total business model approach to fishery restructuring and not considering any other potential factors like regional considerations, adjacency and historic attachment. These are all elements that should figure into any discussions on fishery reshaping.

“While, as an Opposition, we support the spirit of the MOU process in terms of bringing solutions to our fishery challenges, we cannot support any initiatives until there is a formal plan in place; and that appears to be on the distant horizon.  In the meantime, government has a clear responsibility to safeguard the interests of those people who are now facing displacement from a changing industry.”

- 30 -