Trudeau pushes back after premiers accuse him of encroaching on their territory
'The premiers get pissed, simple as that,' says Premier Doug Ford
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pushing back against the claim that his government is infringing on provincial and territorial jurisdiction after the premiers repeatedly attacked his program spending during their annual summer meeting this week.
Canada's 13 premiers spent nearly three days in Halifax discussing shared priorities and challenges.
While the premiers didn't agree on all topics — including the thorny issue of equalization payments — they appeared shoulder to shoulder to attack what they see as Ottawa's habit of intervening in areas of provincial responsibility ranging from dental care to the cod fishery.
As the meetings wrapped up Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford took aim at the federal government's billion-dollar national school food program, which promises to deliver meals to an additional 400,000 children per year.
He said his province's program feeds more kids, for less.
"Something's broken. They're wasting taxpayers money," he said during the premiers' closing news conference.
"You know what happens? The premiers get pissed, simple as that. They just jump in there and they think they know better than what we know."
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, the chair of this year's conference, said Ottawa's approach to the federation "risks pitting provinces and territories, really Canadians, against one another."
In a letter sent to both Houston and Ford on Wednesday, Trudeau said the federal government is merely trying to "use federal funding to improve the lives of Canadians, not to infringe on provincial and territorial jurisdiction."
"I would encourage provinces and territories who are reluctant to sign on to these initiatives or taking obstructionist positions to consider the impact that their decisions have on people, and to see us as a partner," Trudeau wrote in his letter, obtained by CBC News.
The letter does not promise a meeting between Trudeau and the premiers, often referred to as a first ministers' meeting — something many premiers requested this week.
Trudeau said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc would be willing to meet with Ford and any other interested premiers.
"Reinvigorating cooperative federalism in Canada is a top priority for my government and I am pleased to hear the Council of the Federation feels similarly," Trudeau wrote.
Premiers have requests for Ottawa
While the premiers called on Ottawa to back off, they also didn't leave the sunny port city without first issuing a list of requests.
They floated several areas where they want to see the federal government play a bigger role, including infrastructure spending, Arctic security and immigration supports.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said he'd be prepared to welcome more asylum seekers, especially francophones, but only if the province sees a boost in funding from the federal government.
Nova
Scotia Premier Tim Houston, centre, speaks to Quebec Premier Francois
Legault, right, beside Ontario Premier Doug Ford as Canada's premiers
hold a press conference to close the Council of the Federation meetings
in Halifax on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)
"We have the housing needs, the health-care and social needs in Manitoba, and so we really do need the federal government, who has the fiscal resources to be able to move the needle here, to do so," he said.
Kinew did wade into federal waters earlier today when he called on Ottawa to speed up defence investment.
After years of criticism from allies — most notably the United States — the Liberal government announced last week that it hopes to meet NATO's military investment commitment of two per cent of alliance members' gross domestic product by 2032.
Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau tours a fully electric bus at a York Region
Transit facility in Richmond Hill, Ont. on Friday, July 5, 2024. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)
Kinew urged Trudeau to reach that target in four years to alleviate concerns south of the border ahead of a presidential election that could return former president Donald Trump to the White House.
"If we're not meeting our responsibility to our NATO allies, it is going to have an impact on [the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement] renewal. It is gonna have an impact on the relationship," said the premier.
When asked if the premiers are asking for too much from the federal government on too many items, Houston said they're asking the Liberals to refocus.
"We need to be focused on how and where that money is invested. We have a lot of ideas on that and we hope that they listen to us," he said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
End of cod moratorium touted after 32 years as Ottawa approves small increase in commercial catch
DFO announcement features statements from all 6 Liberal MPs in N.L.
But what the federal government described in a statement as the "historic return of the commercial northern cod fishery" will amount to just a small increase in fishing activity that had been allowed during the recent years of the moratorium.
"Ending the northern cod moratorium is a historic milestone for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," Lebouthillier said in a statement. "We will cautiously but optimistically build back this fishery with the prime beneficiaries being coastal and Indigenous communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador."
In October, a scientific assessment moved the northern cod stock from what was called "critical" to "cautious."
DFO, however, also said the northern cod stock had not shown growth since 2016.
The total allowable catch, or TAC, this year will be 18,000 tonnes, with much of it directed to inshore fleets.
The TAC, though, is just slightly larger than last year's 13,000 tonnes, which was managed by DFO — like many years of the moratorium — under strict conditions.
By comparison, the TAC in the pre-moratorium era was many times higher than it will be this year — for instance, the 250,000 allowable tonnes in the heavy fishing years of the late 1980s.
The Fisheries and Oceans announcement comes with political overtones.
Much of the text consists of separate statements from all six of Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal MPs, and the announcement comes as the beleaguered Liberals fight against a rising Conservative party ahead of a looming federal election.
One of them, Avalon MP Ken McDonald, told CBC News the announcement was "definitely not" politically motivated.
"We've been talking about this in Ottawa for months and months and maybe a year ago," said McDonald, adding the purpose is to help fishing communities. "So it had nothing to with the election, not that I'm aware of."
Fisheries union leader Greg Pretty blasted the Liberal government for an announcement that he said "completely and utterly failed our province," with a strategy that favours private companies over individual harvesters.
"Today is yet another blow in a long string of Liberal government failures to protect coastal communities while they prop up their corporate buddies," Pretty, president of Fish, Food & Allied Workers-Unifor, said in a statement.
The FFAW claims most of the increase to the quota will be directed to offshore interests, despite the overall inshore focus. The union wants the Liberals to stick to a 1982 agreement that would see the first 115,000 tonnes of northern cod — an amount not announced in more than three decades — allocated to the inshore.
High stakes, low stocks
Jenn Thornhill Verma, author of Cod Collapse: The Rise and Fall of Newfoundland's Saltwater Cowboys, is cautious about describing the release as a historic announcement, and noted that — even with the moratorium in place — Ottawa has allowed a commercial cod fishery since 2006.
"It's a moratorium, but it's not really a moratorium," Thornhill Verma told CBC News on Wednesday.
Thornhill Verma said she doesn't feel like the announcement reflects science.
"The science says all the Atlantic cod populations in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean remain historically low."
She also says she's skeptical of how substantial the fishery will be, compared with the heyday of the pre-moratorium fishery.
"This would be like, you know, you've been bankrupt for 30 years, you're finally earning a little cash back and you're going on a spending spree," said Thornhill Verma.
The focus on the inshore fishery, however, is historic, she said. "They also want to make sure that they're prioritizing Indigenous and coastal communities," said Thornhill-Verma. "That should be celebrated."
The Association of Seafood Producers, a St. John's-based organization that represents seafood processors, said the announcement is "welcome news" for its members.
"The iconic cod fishery was once a mainstay and has been the backbone of our province," executive director Jeff Loder said in a statement Wednesday.
Shutdown had dramatic effect on economy, population
In 1992, federal Fisheries Minister John Crosbie shut down the northern cod fishery — putting more than 20,000 people out of work in one of the largest industrial layoffs in Canadian history — as cod catches dwindled and harvesters were alarmed by the sight of smaller and smaller fish.
Federal
Fisheries Minister John Crosbie confronts fishermen in Bay Bulls on
July 1, 1992, a day before the cod moratorium came into effect. (CBC)
The moratorium triggered an economic crisis and contributed to a declining population in Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly in rural areas.
Earlier this year, seafood producers called for a modest hike in commercial activity in northern cod.
"We're hoping now with more confidence in the stock we would see a reopening of a commercial cod fishery," Alberto Wareham, president and CEO of Icewater Seafoods in Arnold's Cove, told CBC News in April.
The federal government also recently announced the continuation of the recreational cod fishery, also known as the food fishery. That fishery will open this year on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from June 29 through Sept. 2, and from Sept. 21-29.
Lebouthillier also announced the department intends to eliminate catch-and-release for tour boat operations in the recreational fishery and introduce tagging in 2025.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
With files from The St. John's Morning Show
Federal fisheries minister ignored DFO advice by reopening commercial cod fishery
Upping cod quotas projected to be 'politically a victory,' according to briefing note from minister's office
Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier ignored the advice of staff within her department when she reopened the commercial cod fishery off Newfoundland and Labrador in June.
A briefing note dated May 9 reveals that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans recommended maintaining the longtime moratorium on northern cod based on scientific evidence, but that political advisors within the minister's office argued reopening the commercial fishery and hiking quotas would be "politically a victory."
Senior policy advisor Paul Carrigan wrote that DFO staff were concerned about an increase to quotas and the return of offshore boats in the fishery, which would "increase the stocks' risk of decline."
According to the document, the department wanted to maintain the total allowable catch at 13,000 tonnes — the same level announced in 2022 and 2023. They also recommended the minister maintain a stewardship fishery for cod, meaning a limited fishery practised solely by inshore harvesters.
"Certainly, this option is based more on scientific advice," reads the briefing note, which was first reported on by news website allNewfoundlandLabrador.
'Rest assured' in government's approach, says minister
Lebouthillier declined an interview Monday because she was travelling to British Columbia.
"It's important to do things right, and that's why we are revitalizing this fishery carefully, but with optimism," said the minister in a statement to Radio-Canada in French.
"Rest assured that I will continue to work closely with the industry, both on the harvesting and processing sides, as well as with the province's various Indigenous communities, to ensure the sustainable development of Newfoundland and Labrador's fisheries sector."
The federal government declared a moratorium on cod in 1992. (Robert F. Bukaty/The Associated Press)
'Politics trumping science'
According to the briefing note, DFO staff presented two other potential options to the minister:
- Reopening a commercial fishery with a total allowable catch of 15,000 tonnes, with quotas distributed solely among inshore and Indigenous fish harvesters.
- Reopening a commercial fishery with a total allowable catch of 18,000 tonnes, allowing the return of offshore vessels more than 100 feet long.
DFO staff warned, however, that both options presented a higher risk of the northern cod stock returning to what the department considers the "critical zone." While DFO announced last year, after rejigging its stock assessment framework, that northern cod has been in the cautious zone since 2016, population growth may have stalled, worrying government scientists.
Despite DFO's concerns, political considerations appear to have won the day.
The briefing note indicates the federal Liberals' Newfoundland and Labrador caucus, composed of the province's six Liberal MPs, "will only support option 3, the 18,000 tonnes."
"You should consider 20,000, which would be a political victory for N.L.," the document continues, noting that "the N.L. caucus is united on going ahead with a commercial fishery."
In the end, on June 26, Lebouthillier announced the reopening of the commercial fishery and a total allowable catch of 18,000, the course of action supported by her Liberal colleagues.
"I did not and I do not believe that DFO science would recommend the policy put forth by the minister. There is a long history with this and other Canadian fisheries of politics trumping science," said George Rose, a long-time fisheries scientist based in British Columbia, who spent 40 years studying cod. "Our fisheries continue to suffer."
Disagreement over foreign vessels
The briefing note, as well as other documents obtained by Radio-Canada, shows Lebouthillier faced pressures from fish harvesters union Fish, Food & Allied Workers-Unifor, Indigenous groups, the offshore fleet and the processing sector to increase cod quotas.
"Most stakeholders want to the total allowable catch to be between 20,000 and 25,000 tonnes," reads the note.
The document also highlights that in reopening a commercial cod fishery, Canada must respect a series of obligations under the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization convention. The treaty stipulates that foreign offshore boats are allowed to fish five per cent of the total allowable catch set by the Canadian government.
The FFAW and the provincial government denounced the reopening of the cod fishery to foreign trawlers, but the document says it is "impossible that NAFO will allow us to pretend that a 'stewardship fishery' is not a commercial fishery now that the stock is in the cautious zone."
Broken promise
The FFAW has repeatedly criticized the federal government's decision to allow offshore boats back into the cod fishery. The federal Liberal Party and DFO repeatedly promised that all northern cod quotas would go to inshore and Indigenous harvesters so long as the total allowable catch was less than 115,000 tonnes.
That promise was broken, in the end, to avoid a situation where foreign offshore trawlers could participate in the commercial fishery by virtue of the NAFO treaty, while Canadian offshore boats were forbidden from doing so.
Ottawa announced the cod moratorium in 1992 after years of overfishing, a decision that turned the province's economy on its head and saw tens of thousands lose their jobs overnight.
While cod quotas jumped 46 per cent when the commercial fishery reopened in 2024, the total allowable catch of 18,000 tonnes is just a fraction of what it was in the late 1990s. In the 1960s, yearly landings surpassed 800,000 tonnes.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Greg Pretty
Greg Pretty was elected president of the largest private sector trade union in Newfoundland and Labrador, FFAW-Unifor, in January 2023.
Pretty brings 40 years of experience in labour management and organizing, having started his career with the union in the early 1980s under Richard Cashin.
Since 2003, Pretty has served as the Director of the Industrial/Retail/Offshore Sector. He has negotiated over 100 collective agreements over his career and has extensive experience with both the inshore and industrial/retail/offshore sectors of the FFAW.
His career highlights include coordinating the Over the Side Sales campaign (1983), being an advisory board member of MUN’s Marine Institute (2006) and Labour Co-Chair of the National Seafood Sector Council (2007).
Pretty was also a board member of Canadian Marine Advisory Committee (2000), Labour Standards Committee NL (2000), Metro Business Opportunities (1995-President), and Workplace NL.
He was also Chair of Client Service Committee, member on the Finance Committee and member of the Sub-Investment Committee (2010-2013) and Co-Chair of NL’s Labour Arbitration Committee (2008-2016).
Pretty served two terms as Vice-President of NL Federation of Labour (2004-2010).
Prior to taking on IRO Director role in 2003, serviced the inshore sector in 4R, 3Pn, 3Ps and 3K, as well as served on negotiating teams for groundfish, pelagics, shrimp and crab.
FFAW-Unifor
368 Hamilton Ave.
P.O. Box 10, Station C
St. John’s, NL, Canada
A1C 5H5
Phone: (709) 576-7276
Fax: (709) 576-1962
communications@ffaw.ca
DFO defends cut to herring quota that company claims forced N.B. layoffs
Connors Bros. blamed Fisheries and Oceans Canada for having to cut its workforce
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is defending its July decision to reduce the herring quota in the Bay of Fundy, after a major New Brunswick employer blamed the decision for major layoffs.
"We recognize the economic impacts this decision will have on the families and communities that rely on income from fishing and processing herring," said Lauren Sankey, DFO spokesperson, in an emailed statement late Friday afternoon.
"But such a decision is necessary to ensure recovery and protect the resource for future generations," Sankey said.
Connors Bros., a herring processing company in Blacks Harbour, near St. George, announced this week it's laying off 20 per cent of its workforce, which is estimated to be about 100 people.
"The staff reduction is a result of the Canadian Government's Department of Fishery and Ocean's (DFO's) July 2024 decision to cut the total allowable herring catch for the Bay of Fundy by 24%," a release from the company said Thursday.
The release went on to ask the government to "reconsider its science" and re-evaluate the quota reduction.
Andrea Anderson-Mason, MLA for Fundy-The-Isles-Saint John West, also blamed the reduction for the layoffs at Connors Bros.
"It's incredibly difficult. We have seen the writing on the wall, we have seen the signals," she said.
Connors Bros. laid off 20 per cent of its workforce on Thursday, which is an estimated 100 people. (CBC)
But the federal agency is not reconsidering.
Sankey said Atlantic herring stock in the Bay of Fundy is in the critical zone for the sixth year in a row.
"DFO Science advice indicates that [quota] reductions are needed to rebuild the stock out of the critical zone," she said.
Federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dianne Lebouthillier set the herring quota for the Bay of Fundy at 16,000 tonnes for the 2024 through 2027 seasons.
To date, the quota has been cut by more than half, from 50,000 tonnes in 2016 and 42,500 tonnes in both 2017 and 2018.
Stock assessments are based on indicators such as at-sea surveys conducted by the industry that are then independently analyzed by DFO scientists, Sankey said.
Additionally, the herring fishery is conducted in parts of the bay where herring gather in larger groups, "which can give the perception that the stock is more abundant than it actually is," she said.
"As a forage species, Atlantic herring is an important food source for larger fish and whales. Herring also supports an important commercial fishery in Atlantic Canada, and is used as bait in other fisheries, such as lobster and snow crab."
Following the Connors Bros. layoffs, the Fundy North Fishermen's Association warned of challenges for the region's lobster fishery this fall, because herring is used as bait for lobster traps.
The association shared a letter from Connors Bros. with CBC News that said the company could no longer provide herring bait to the lobster industry, following the July DFO reduction, because of the reduced herring available.
"Decisions will continue to be informed by the best available science regarding the stock of Atlantic herring in southwest Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy," Sankey said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Layoffs at Connors Bros. seafood plant 'punch in the gut' for community
Blacks Harbour company blames Fisheries Department for recent herring-catch reductions
Connors Bros., a leading supplier of canned herring and a major employer in southwestern New Brunswick, is laying off 20 per cent of its workers, the company announced Thursday.
The plant in Blacks Harbour, near St. George, employs up to 450 people, depending on the season.
A Connors spokesperson did not respond when asked exactly how many people had been laid off.
A news release from the company blames the federal government's July decision to cut the herring quota in the Bay of Fundy.
"We've been operating in this community for over 130 years and this is a heartbreaking decision, but it's necessary to keep our plant viable moving forward," Connors Bros. general Manager Chad Baum said in the release.
The company will continue to ask the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to reconsider its science and to re-evaluate the future quota recommendations, the release said.
The plant will continue operating with a reduced workforce, and affected employees were given a six-week notice.
Connors. Bros. operates as a division of Clover Leaf Seafoods, which is owned by the Bumble Bee Seafood Company, based in San Diego, Calif.
Catch limits will be reduced by about a quarter for the 2024 season, the federal government announced in July, citing declining herring stocks.
Fisheries spokesperson Lauren Sankey said in an email that the department would not be able to offer comment Thursday on the layoffs or the blame from Connors.
MLA says layoffs a major loss for area
Andrea Anderson-Mason, MLA for Fundy-The-Isles-Saint John West, said she's heard from the province that it's estimated about 100 people are laid off but that some local residents say it could be slightly more.
"As you can imagine, this very much feels like a punch in the gut for my community," said Anderson-Mason, who sat as a Progressive Conservative on the government side of the legislature.
While she has spoken with the province to make sure affected workers are assisted, Anderson-Mason said she's disappointed that the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour was not present in the community on Thursday.
MLA
Andrea Anderson-Mason says she wishes the province had done more to
show up in Blacks Harbour on Thursday to help laid-off workers. (Radio-Canada)
"I have heard government offices say we are looking for other places these people can go to work, but it's not always that simple," she said.
Greg Turner, the labour minister, said in an email statement late Thursday that the province is working with the company to support workers and is planning an information session for them "in the short term." Laid-off workers can also contact WorkingNB for job support, he added.
"We understand that this is a significant blow to the workers, their families, the community and the local economy, and our thoughts go out to them at this difficult time," Turner said.
Anderson-Mason said the area is economically depressed, and there is no public transportation, so it's challenging for some workers to simply start working in another community.
"And so sometimes these speaking notes that you get from the province and government don't necessarily reflect the reality that is the situation that we're facing," she said.
Connors Bros. processes herring in Blacks Harbour, about 70 kilometres
west of Saint John on the Bay of Fundy. (Robert F. Bukaty/The Associated
Press)
Eastern Charlotte Mayor John Craig said he suspects the company will be restructuring to ensure operations can continue, but that doesn't help those who were laid off.
"Every job lost is a major loss for our area," he said, describing it as a "domino effect" on the community. He said provincial officials will be in Blacks Harbour next week to help those laid off.
The work at Connors Bros. was hands-on, manual labour that employed a wide variety of people, including lots of immigrants, and Anderson-Mason said she's heard from seniors and single parents who worked there and are now employed.
Anderson-Mason said the layoffs are not a surprise given the recent DFO reduction of the herring quota.
"It's incredibly difficult, we have seen the writing on the wall, we have seen the signals," she said.
The company defined the small community of Blacks Harbour, which has a population of about 900, Anderson-Mason said.
"I don't want to lose sight of the fact that we have families who were living in very challenging situations. These are not high-paying jobs, but they are really important jobs."
"And they are the jobs that keep food on the table for families."
Fishing group warns of indirect impact on lobster fishery
A southwest New Brunswick fishing association is warning of tumble-down effects on the lobster fishery this fall after the herring quota reduction.
"It's a devastating loss for our coastal communities that could have been avoided," said Amanda Johnson, executive director of the Fundy North Fishermen's Association.
She believes the Connors layoffs could have been avoided if the herring quota hadn't been cut.
Because lobster fishermen often use herring for bait, Johnson said the industry will be squeezed when lobster season opens in November.
The
Fundy North Fishermen's Association is concerned that the herring quota
reduction will impact the lobster industry, which uses the fish as
bait. (CBC)
"It's impacted us as well because Connors is no longer able to supply bait this year for the lobster fishery, which is going to cause severe challenges come this fall when we open," Johnson said.
In July, Connors sent a letter to the association to say the company could no longer supply them with herring bait.
"We appreciate the added challenge this will bring to your lobster fishermen, but we simply do not have enough catch to satisfy our markets and will have no excess fish to sell," Connors president Matt Walsh said in the letter.
Johnson said lobster fishermen are now scrambling to find alternative baits.
"Ultimately, DFO and the Fisheries Act, part of their responsibility is to protect and help coastal communities," she said.
"And these layoffs are not doing that, it's going to impact a lot of people in a negative way."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
28 Comments
Don Corey
Looks like we can once again thank the federal government for being so kind as to inflict more pain on NB.u
Rest assured, there will be no such federal decisions between now and next year's election that will negatively impact jobs in Quebec and Ontario.
Raymond Leger
Sad state of affairs we have here in New Brunswick
Don Corey
Reply to Raymond Leger
This is on the feds. Did you read the story?
Al Clark
Plenty of Gaspareau for bait.
Lou Bell
Let's face it . When it comes to the fishing industry , the Liberals would sooner hand these people fishing rods , put them on longterm EI , and have them fishing off bridges all around Charlotte County . A lack of vision , no foresight , and a complete disinterest for most NBers is the mantra of the Liberal Party , both Federally and provincially here in NB .
Graham McCormack
Reply to Lou Bell
What is it about decreasing stocks of herring that you don't understand.
Lou Bell
Sorry Ms. Anderson-Mason , the blame lays solely with the feds on this . Long term EI here in NB is the norm for many in the fishing industry and has the full support of the Fed Liberals . Not even knowing some people actually want to work in the fisheries industry has gone completely over the heads of our NB MP's LeBlanc and Riguette ! Fisheries is just another of NB's resouce Industries our Federal Liberals have completely stifled . Getting a Federal Government that actually wants to develop our resource industries will certainly be a breath of fresh air . These 2 MP's have done nothing for most NBers and the cash cow will soon be put out to pasture for these two .
Lou Bell
Reply to Lou Bell
Anderson- Mason just doesn't get it . Of course the quota cut was the cause for this layoff . Sloely caudes by the Liberals . It appears she doesn't realize which party she was elected for . The layoff was announced late in the day and there's no way anyone from the province could have been there for counselling . Most , if not all of those laid off just found out about it today . Once again we see the MLA for the area is not up to date as to the duties of a politician . Much like many running for the liberals who were so resoundingly defeated in the last provincial election , many of whom ran for other parties .
Gerry Ford
Bumble Bee Seafood Company, is now owned by FCF Co, Ltd. of Taiwan; they make the calls now.
Allan Marven
Charco means nothing to Fredericton , or Ottawa.
Lou Bell
Reply to Allan Marven
Appears your MLA is out of her element once again .
Doug kirby
This is not one bit fair to that neck of the woods
Allan Marven
Reply to Doug kirby
We're used to it.
Luc Newsome
Fish plant workers have very little in common with Fed government officials
Allan Marven
Reply to Luc Newsome
That's for sure, plant workers wash the stink off when they get home.
Ian Scott
Tough one. I think anyone born there or who fishes there knows the herring and mackeral have almost vanished from inshore. Lobster folks often have to import frozen for bait. It used to be in barrels . Schools of fish could be seen from shore. Now woudl be bait fishing time for next year. Next will be lobster decline as they have nothing to eat except them selves. Pickeled herring quite nice. I wonder in tfw issues are in this too.?
Allan Marven
Reply to Ian Scott
Fyi The lobstermen are the problem. They have decimated the herring and mackerel stocks for bait, to enhance their billion dollar fishery. Flounder too.
Lou Bell
Reply to Allan Marven
Farmed Atlantic salmon .
Allan Marven
Reply to Lou Bell
Read "Salmon Wars" by Collins and Frantz.
Albalita Rose
Canned herring?...sounds awful....
Dianne MacPherson
Reply to Albalita Rose
Kippered herring makes great
sandwiches, for me.
MR Cain
Reply to Albalita Rose
Buttered toast, kippers, mayo, and sprinkle a little parmesan...mmmm!
Albalita Rose
Reply to MR Cain
So like lobster...needs lots of butter and other stuff to be tolerable...got it
Luc Newsome
Reply to Albalita Rose
They are great
MR Cain
Reply to Albalita Rose
Don't need butter; they are great with pieces of cheese and crackers too.
Allan Marven
Reply to Albalita Rose
Try some surströmming.
Allan Marven
Reply to Albalita Rose
Read "Herring Tales" by Donald S Murray. A very interesting read on the history of that . Then "Salt" by Mark Kurlansky for an even more fascinating history of that.
Don Corey
Reply to Albalita Rose
No, you don't get it; far from it actually.
Herring quota in southwestern Nova Scotia, Bay of Fundy reduced again
Total allowable catch reduced by more than half since stocks fell in 2018
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has again lowered the Atlantic herring quota in southwestern Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy, this time for 2024 to 2027.
DFO has announced the total allowable catch for the fishery will be 16,000 tonnes per season over those four seasons. The 2023 allocation was 21,000 tonnes.
"Atlantic herring, like many fisheries, faces challenges as a result of climate change, which has led to herring that are smaller in size and that have more difficulty surviving and reproducing in their ecosystem," says a news release from the department.
The Atlantic herring stock fell into a critical zone in 2018 and remains there, according to the department. To date, the quota has been cut by more than half, from 50,000 tonnes in 2016 and 42,500 tonnes in both 2017 and 2018.
Previously, the industry and conservation groups have been at odds over quota amounts.
"We recognize the economic impacts this decision will have on the families and communities that rely on income from fishing and processing herring. But such a decision is necessary to ensure recovery and protect the resource for future generations," said the DFO release.
A statement from the Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia on Friday said the DFO's decision was "shocking" and will be devastating for many operators and plants in rural Maritime communities.
It said the herring fishery in southwestern Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy supports 1,000 jobs and a processing sector in the province and New Brunswick.
"Using DFO's own overly pessimistic science, industry showed that a [21,000-tonne quota] could be maintained while completing the science process and ensuring that the stock would be rebuilt," the statement said.
It said imposing the quota over four years would make it even more difficult for companies to operate in the region.
Action centre applauds four-year quota
Meanwhile, the Ecology Action Centre and Oceans North advocated for the quota to be 13,000 tonnes — but still the organizations were pleased the department set the total allowable catch closer to what they've advocated for than in years past.
Shannon Arnold, the associate director of marine programs at the Ecology Action Centre, commended DFO for implementing the quota for four years — rather than bringing the issue back year after year.
"This is going to allow for like a good chunk of time to step back, redo the science framework, look at creating the required rebuilding plan for this stock and really taking the time."
Arnold said the short-term benefits of a higher quota allocation, which industry advocated for, could undermine the economic future of coastal communities.
Earlier this year, an economic analysis released by Oceans North said a rebuilt Atlantic herring stock could be worth at least $402 million.
"We are still a little concerned that it might not be enough, but it is closer to where we think it should go," said Katie Schleit, a fisheries director at the non-profit conservation group. "Forage fish like herring are important not only for their economic value as a fishery but also for the economic value that they provide in the water as food source."
Under the Fisheries Act, there's a requirement to rebuild fish stocks in the critical zone within a "reasonable time frame."
Michelle Greenlaw, a research scientist with DFO, said the total allowable catch is not necessarily associated with a rebuilding timeline.
"But this could be part of a sustainable fishing strategy to rebuild," said Greenlaw. "We don't have a rebuilding target set in place for the herring stock — usually it's within two generations."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Newfoundland fish harvesters crash news conference to demand reinstating of cod moratorium
Harvesters call for meeting with Trudeau, return to stewardship fishery
Fish harvesters in Newfoundland crashed the podium at a meeting of Canada's environment ministers in St. John's on Wednesday, demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the federal government's decision to reopen the commercial cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Moments before the start of the news conference, which was to detail two days of meetings of the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers, Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Minister Bernard Davis was interrupted by a loud siren.
Glen Winslow, a St. John's fish harvester, then walked up to meet Davis at the podium from a group of around 15 protesters.
"Sorry we got to do this, my buddy, but this is too important to Newfoundland and Labrador," Winslow said to Davis over the news conference's microphone while the other ministers watched on.
"I kind of think it's ridiculous that we got to be here and doing this today. I kind of think that things could be straightened out at lot easier."
Members of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union came to the news conference to voice their calls for Ottawa to revert its decision to end the moratorium on cod fishing and reinstate a stewardship fishery in the province.
A moratorium had been in place since 1992, when overfishing from dragging trawlers near and abroad nearly destroyed the stock, but was removed in June.
Inshore fishermen are set to receive 84 per cent of the 18,000-tonne total allowable catch, but the reopening of the commercial fishery also allows dragging to resume.
"It's been stopped for 32 years, and someone in their right mind thought we have enough cod in the water all of a sudden to allow it to happen again, Winslow said.
"If we're going to stand by and allow it to happen all over again, it's just as well for us to close shop."
Winslow, along with FFAW president Greg Pretty, said harvesters are demanding a meeting with the prime minister.
They claim Trudeau broke an election promise made in 2015 to then FFAW president Keith Sullivan to uphold a 1982 agreement that would allocate 115,000 tonnes annually to inshore harvesters under a commercial cod fishery when the stock rebounds.
"We were guaranteed by that man 115,000 metric tonnes, the first 115,000 metric tonnes for inshore harvesters and then Indigenous allocations. And it never happened.… And with last week's announcement, all of a sudden we've got foreign trawlers and domestic trawlers catching baby fish again. And we don't think it's a good thing," he said.
A
group of about 15 people stand next to the ministers with signs calling
for the stewardship fishery to be reinstated, on Wednesday. Fish, Food
and Allied Workers president Greg Pretty, seen in the front wearing a
blue shirt, said harvesters can't let Ottawa's decision stand. (Henrike Wilhelm/CBC)
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey sent a letter to federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier on July 3. He wrote that the province can't support fish being harvested by foreign countries at the expense of harvesters, and that he was seriously concerned with the announcement.
Asked about the protest, Davis called the FFAW a passionate group of people who wanted to get their message across.
"I'm supportive of what they're looking to try to accomplish with respect to, you know, protecting the fishery for the long term for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. I understand they're very passionate," he said.
Pretty followed Winslow at the podium, calling Davis an "ally in our fight for justice."
He adamantly refuted the choice to reopen the commercial fishery and called for the fishery to return to a stewardship designation.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
With files from Henrike Wilhelm
Furey says changes to cod catch are an 'affront' to N.L. in letter to federal fisheries minister
'The time has come for the province to have a direct say over our resources,' says premier
Newfoundland
and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, pictured here in June, has
criticized the federal government's recent changes to cod allocations,
calling them an 'affront' to the province's fishing industry. (Peter Cowan/CBC)In a letter to Diane Lebouthillier, dated July 3, Furey says the provincial government is concerned about the changes, announced June 26.
"Changes that provide increased access to foreign fleets, coupled with the risk of overfishing, are an affront to the patience and commitment to stewardship demonstrated by the hardworking harvesters and processors of this province," says Furey in the letter, posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
"The province simply cannot support fish being harvested by foreign countries at the expense of our own harvesters."
Furey's letter is the latest public rebuke by N.L.'s Liberal government — currently the only provincial Liberal administration in the country — of the federal Liberals.
Furey turned down a CBC request Thursday for an interview.
Last week, the federal government announced what it described as the ending of the northern cod moratorium— in reality, an increase to fishing activity that has been allowed in recent years. The total allowable catch this year will be 18,000 tonnes, up from 13,000 last year.
The announcement was met with scorn from the province's largest fishermen's union, with Fish, Food & Allied Workers president Greg Pretty saying the government had "completely and utterly failed" Newfoundland and Labrador.
The FFAW said most of the increase will go to offshore interests, contrary to a 1982 agreement that would see the first 115,000 tonnes — an amount not allowed since the moratorium was implemented in 1992 — allocated to the inshore fleet.
Latest public rebuke of federal Liberals
Furey's relationship with the federal Liberals has become more strained in recent months.
Furey has suggested two PC byelection wins this year are partly due to anger at his federal counterparts, over the cost of living in general and the carbon tax in particular. The provincial Liberals have also downplayed Liberal branding and the word "Liberal" itself in recent campaign signs.
For their part, Liberal MPs say last week's moratorium announcement was not politically motivated as an attempt to boost the party's flagging support in Newfoundland and Labrador, despite its involvement of all six of the province's Liberal MPs.
"It had nothing to do with the election, not that I'm aware of," said Avalon MP Ken McDonald, who has since announced he's not running for reelection, last week.
Furey's letter says he's raised his concerns with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"These decisions should not have been taken without consultation with stakeholders in Newfoundland and Labrador. The time has come for the province to have a direct say over our resources," he wrote, adding that there needs to be an immediate discussion on how the provincial and federal governments can "structure a joint management approach to the fishery."
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
Thursday 21 March 2024
Police don riot gear as N.L. Liberals make 2nd attempt at budget amid protests
Automatic reply: [Potential Junk/Spam] Fwd: RE Persecuted Coutts protesters demand accountability from elected officials
Good Day;
Thank you for reaching out to me as MHA for the District of Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune or as Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.
If your email is district related, please forward to my Constituency Assistant, Verna Anderson, to vernaanderson@gov.nl.ca or call 709 - 885 - 3067.
Any departmental correspondence, please forward to FFAMinister@gov.nl.ca or call 709 - 729 - 3705.
My staff will coordinate all requests and follow up with you on my behalf to ensure your concerns are addressed in a timely manner.
Regards,
Elvis Loveless, MHA
43 - 45 Canada Drive
P.O. Box 38
Harbour Breton, NL
A0H 1P0
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
30 Strawberry Marsh Road
Petten Building
St. John's, NL A1B 4J6
| 12:15 PM (0 minutes ago) | ||
| |||
Fwd: RE Persecuted Coutts protesters demand accountability from elected officials
Crab harvesters will lose out on $30M because price-setting panel sided with processors, says Efford
Price floor set at $2.60 per pound heading into 2024 season
With the time-sensitive snow crab season set to begin in a few days, fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador are once again talking about tying up their boats due to the price of crab.
One vocal critic says the new decision will cost harvesters as much as $30 million from a lucrative fishery that has become the economic mainstay in the industry since the cod collapse of the early 1990s.
The province's price-setting panel sided with the Association of Seafood Producers on Monday evening, setting a price floor of $2.60 per pound with the ability go up as market factors change.
The panel rejected a formula proposed by the Food, Fish & Allied Workers union, which was closely tied to the formula suggested by an independent report at the end of last season.
"There was a better way to do this," said FFAW president Greg Pretty. "The work was already done by Glen Blackwood in his report. The Blackwood formula provided a way for harvesters to be paid a fair market share, but that was tossed aside for a formula that is not tied to information harvesters can trust."
FFAW
president Greg Pretty says the decision from the price-setting panel is
disappointing, and a departure from the work done in the Blackwood
report. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)
Fish harvesters took to social media to express their concerns, with some saying they weren't prepared to go fishing for $2.60 a pound.
John Efford, the Port de Grave fisherman who led protests throughout March, said when he heard the price setting panel had chosen the ASP formula his first reaction was one of disbelief.
"We were just totally overlooked. We had a fair — not one sided — but a fair and good proposal in," he told CBC News.
Efford estimates that fish harvesters will lose out of $30 million this year through the adoption of the ASP formula as opposed to the FFAW recommendation. From his perspective, it's not clear why the panel decided to accept the ASPs formula.
"It seems like that it was set up to fail from the beginning. It was never a decision to pick the FFAW formula. It was to disprove it, whichever way they could and not back up why they would choose the ASP," he said.
.jpg?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:*510w)
Getting ready to fish is more than just making sure all the gear and boat maintenance, he said, it also includes making sure other factors are in order.
"The factors are not in line for me to go fishing. I am not going fishing till we get this straightened out," he said.
Last year's crab season was halted by a six-week protest, in which harvesters refused to fish for $2.20 per pound. Harvesters eventually went on the water for the same price, which rose to $2.60 per pound by the end of the season. An arbitrator later ruled the fisheries union was on the hook for damages suffered by processors resulting from the tie-up.
While Efford wouldn't say if anything was being planned in protest like a demonstration, he said discussions were happening.
"There's a plan being formulated on how to deal with this. That's all we could say," said Efford.
The ASP has not yet commented on the price-setting decision.
Panel explains decision
The FFAW formula would have seen harvesters paid on a sliding scale, starting with 100 per cent up front in the beginning of the season, and going down to 80 per cent as the season goes on.
This was a departure from the Blackwood formula, which proposed 80 per cent up front throughout the season to ensure harvesters were paid the same whether they fished early or late in the season.
In a written decision, the panel said it could not accept the FFAW formula because the sliding scale created potential for a situation "where the harvesters would be in a position of having to pay the processors back an overpayment at the end of the season."
The
snow crab season in Newfoundland and Labrador is shaping up to be
shrouded in controversy once again, after the fisheries union sounded
off on a decision from the province's price-setting panel. (CBC)
While the FFAW argued the chances of that were slim, the panel said it could not select a formula where fish harvesters could be indebted to processors.
On the other hand, the panel said the ASP formula was "not a Blackwood formula," but was based on historical crab prices and tackled some of the issues raised in the Blackwood report.
"The ASP offer provides a formula that addresses the FFAW's requirement that there be no initial holdback or 'variance,' and does not predict a situation which could result in a harvester receiving an overpayment that would need to be repaid to the processor or otherwise adjusted at the end of the season," the panel's decision reads.
However, not everyone who sat on the panel was satisfied with the decision they reached.
In a Facebook post, panel member Earle McCurdy, a former FFAW president, voiced his displeasure with the decision as well as his dissent.
He said the panel was put in a difficult position because of the recent Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act amendment that put the panel in a "straitjacket" where they had to use final offer selection from price formula offers submitted.
McCurdy wrote, "The panel would have potentially been in a much better position to be of service to the industry in finding an acceptable basis for all concerned for the 2024 fishery, if it had been given the authority to apply interest arbitration to the price formula as well as to conditions of sale (i.e. had not been bound to accept one of the submissions in its entirety.) Unfortunately, the panel's hands were tied in this regard."
The panel ultimately sided with a formula proposed by the ASP, which
would see a floor price of $2.60 per pound. (Todd O'Brien/CBC)
The FFAW took issue with several facets of the ASP formula, saying it had no mechanism to benefit harvesters as the market increases during the season.
"ASP caps harvester share at 37 [per cent] once the market reaches $8.02 CAD, contrary to historic pricing shares that increases the harvester share as market prices increase," reads a release from the union on Monday evening.
The panel's decision came hours after the provincial Fisheries Minister Elvis Loveless wrote to the FFAW, formally agreeing to terms set after protests two weeks ago. The agreement allows fish harvesters to sell their catch out of province, leading some to ponder if it's better to sell in Nova Scotia this season.
Efford said outside buyers are already reaching out to him and have offered $3.25 per pound.
With files from Paula Gale and Elizabeth Whitten
Fisheries protests give rise to a new John Efford — but what's next for the unofficial leader?
Fishermen fought the same issue in 1996, when a different John Efford was in charge
Hundreds of fish harvesters chanted John Efford's name last Friday as he delivered the news they'd been waiting to hear. He'd just negotiated a deal with the Newfoundland and Labrador government for what harvesters consider a better way forward in the fisheries.
Until this month, the general public would have associated Efford's name with his late father — the former fisheries minister who was a firebrand in his own right.
But here was the younger Efford, a fisherman from Port de Grave, standing in the back of a pickup truck with a group of followers gathered in front of him.
He had led them through two days of intense protests outside the house of government, and now he was the one holding the megaphone — not Fish, Food and Allied Workers union president Greg Pretty, nor FFAW treasury-secretary Jason Spingle.
"Thank Jesus we've finally got some leadership!" a fisherman yelled from the crowd.
"Isn't it about time?" Efford quipped, garnering cheers.
Rough road to unity in fisheries union
The FFAW has been beleaguered by attempts to break it up since at least 2016, when former politician Ryan Cleary led a group of disgruntled fishermen to form FISH-NL.
Jason
Spingle, John Efford Jr. and Greg Pretty addressed a crowd of fish
harvesters on Friday afternoon, telling them a deal had been reached
with the provincial government to end days of protests. (Ryan Cooke/CBC)
One of their biggest gripes was that the union representing them was also representing fish plant workers, and what's good for one side can be conversely bad for the other.
While Cleary's attempts to form a breakaway union died out over time, those same frustrations were at the core of the protests this month, as fishermen decried a lack of control over their own enterprises. Many told CBC News they were at the mercy of the merchants: being told by processors when they could fish, how much they could catch and where they could sell it.
Efford's group started protesting in early March, demanding the provincial government allow fish harvesters more control. If they weren't satisfied with local options, they wanted to be able to look outside the province to sell their catch.
They scored a big win on March 14, when the FFAW announced it was backing their fight.
.jpg?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:*510w)
"It's a step now towards unity," Efford told The Broadcast that night. "It's a step towards bringing all fish harvesters together with our union, with our leadership."
That message continued throughout last week's protests, which saw fishermen tangle with police officers and shut down a provincial budget speech.
When Premier Andrew Furey insisted he wouldn't negotiate with "splinter groups," Efford responded by saying: "We are the FFAW. We are not a splinter group. Every fisherman here is the FFAW."
Same fight, different John Efford
It's not the first time a man named John Efford has led a movement of fishermen accused of being a splinter group.
His father — who had been temporarily removed from the cabinet of Liberal premier Clyde Wells — helped form the United Fisherpersons of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1992, protesting the slashing of cod stocks and the eventual moratorium.
A few years later, the elder Efford was on the other side of the protest line. He was the fisheries minister in 1996, as crab prices plummeted and fish harvesters railed for the right to sell to buyers from outside the province.
John
Efford Sr. was both a provincial and federal politician, rising to the
ministerial ranks at both levels. He died in 2022 at 77. (Canadian Press)
Efford Sr. allowed it, but only for a 30-day window, causing ire across the industry. Fishermen clashed with police, and one even rushed towards Efford Sr. as he spoke to the crowd.
A task force report published following the 1996 season stated: "Harvesters spoke out strongly on the issue of outside buyers. They stated their belief that the fish processing industry is controlled by a 'cartel' and that outside buyers represent the only real competition to this group."
Twenty-eight years later, the younger John Efford led a group of protesters back to the steps of the Confederation Building and made exactly the same complaint.
What's next for Efford and the FFAW?
Throughout this month's protests, there were quips in the crowd that the true leader of the FFAW was the unelected man with the megaphone.
On March 12, Fisheries Minister Elvis Loveless told angry fish harvesters outside Confederation Building that he'd like to discuss the issue with their union, to which some shouted expletives about their leadership.
The anti-union sentiment became less overt two days later when the FFAW came onside with the movement.
After a deal was struck, CBC News asked Efford if he had any aspirations for an executive position within the union, or to follow in his father's footsteps and enter politics.
"All I wanna do is go fishing," he replied. "That's why I'm here."
John Efford addresses fish harvesters gathered outside the
Confederation Building in St. John's on Friday afternoon. (Paul Daly/The
Canadian Press)
Throughout the protests, he was able to rally sects of fish harvesters that don't see eye-to-eye. That includes harvesters who were aligned with FISH-NL, those who remained closer to the FFAW, and those who broke in different directions over the years.
The president of the union took notice.
"We have groups in this province that have spent eight years of their lives trying to tear down the FFAW," Pretty said.
"They were here. They're still at it. So you have to wonder what's going on. I happen to acknowledge that this process has brought some groups together. I've talked to some harvesters here today, so I have a good feeling moving forward. That solidarity is what's going to change this system. Not splinter groups."
Whatever his aspirations are, Pretty said Efford will be an asset as they begin what they hope is a new chapter in the fishing industry.
"He did play a major role in organizing these protests, there's no question about that," Pretty said.
"We'll work closely together to make sure that we have solidarity moving forward, because it can only happen when we are together."
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from The Broadcast, Terry Roberts
Fish harvesters reach deal with N.L. government to allow catch to be sold to outside buyers
Agreement also reached on changing capacity limits, says FFAW
John Efford Jr. fought back tears as he announced the news to hundreds of fish harvesters standing before him — they'd struck a deal with the Newfoundland and Labrador government to end days of protests, including a raucous one Wednesday that cancelled the provincial budget.
According to Efford — the de facto protest leader — and members of the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union, the provincial government has agreed to let fish harvesters sell their catch to buyers from outside the province, regardless of species.
They also said they have commitments on moving caps on processing to promote competition within the industry.
"We got 'er done," Efford told reporters afterward. "Free enterprise for every species."
Efford said they've also reached agreements on introducing new processing licences and increasing processing limits, in an effort to promote more competition among the companies that buy fish from harvesters in the province.
All commitments will have to be put on paper within five business days, he said.
In a statement issued Friday afternoon, Fisheries Minister Elvis Loveless called the meeting positive and said talks will continue.
"We all share the same goal of seeing an organized start to the 2024 fishing season," said the statement. "Our government will continue to work with the FFAW, the Association of Seafood Producers, and other fisheries stakeholders on these and other issues in the fishery as we continue to recognize the value of the industry and the hard-working individuals working within it."
CBC News asked for an interview with Loveless, and was told he was not available Friday.
Protests come to a close
With an agreement in place, the crowd left Confederation Building and headed home.
Protests have been ongoing throughout March, leading into the snow crab season next month. The situation reached a climax Wednesday, when fishermen and their supporters shut down Confederation Building and prevented the provincial government from introducing its annual budget.
They returned Thursday, prompting the Liberal government to go ahead with introducing the budget in the House of Assembly despite the absence of opposition parties, unions and most media outlets.
On Friday morning, the protesters headed to a parking lot opposite the building. Efford told them he'd scored a meeting with Fisheries Minister Elvis Loveless and asked them to refrain from protesting while the meeting was ongoing.
A few hundred metres away, police in riot gear stood ready for any outcome, taping off a section outside Confederation Building where chaos had erupted in previous days.
In the end, their presence wasn't needed.
Fishermen emotional with outcome
Throughout the week, fishermen spoke about the problems they face in the fishery.
Most — like Colin Kennedy — spoke of how they're beholden to the fish plants. They're given specific days they can sell to plants, meaning other factors like weather often have to be overlooked.
"We fish in the smallest boats. We're being told when to go, when to come and how much to bring in," Kennedy said. "We're putting our lives at risk."
Kennedy said it was an emotional day, one where the future finally feels brighter.
Daniel
Hearn is a fish harvester from Petty Harbour. He couldn't hold back
tears as he described how these changes to the fishery will affect his
life. (Radio-Canada)
His sentiments were echoed by Daniel Hearn, who couldn't hold back his tears as he spoke to reporters.
"As of yesterday, I had no future, what I got I'm gonna lose. Today, I got a future," he said.
Hearn said he felt he was under the thumb of the company that buys his catch. He said it felt hopeless at time, unable to sell his catch elsewhere and unable to influence key factors like pay.
These promised changes, he said, put some power back in the hands of harvesters.
In a statement, PC Leader Tony Wakeham said the deal should have been done months ago for a sector crucial to the province.
"After weeks of fighting the Furey Liberals, harvesters and crew members finally got a deal," the statement said, "We'll also continue to monitor progress. If the Furey Liberals fail to deliver, we'll hold them accountable."
Seafood producers upset at deal
The Association of Seafood Producers, meanwhile, was not in favour of the concessions made to fish harvesters.
"We're very disappointed to say the least that a decision of this magnitude would be made as a result of this type of protest," said ASP executive director Jeff Loder. "These are important public policy decisions. They should be made from the result of in-depth policy analysis and work, and we will have more to say over the coming days."
Loder said he feels Newfoundland and Labrador processing companies can compete with outside buyers, but they are concerned about the changes. He also said any changes to processing limits or new licences could have a negative impact across the industry, which he says is already over capacity.
"ASP is fundamentally opposed to any increase in any caps or any new licenses," he said. "There are implications of that and we will be responding accordingly."
Spingle, secretary-treasurer of the Fish, Food & Allied Workers
union speaks to the crowd through a megaphone. (Ryan Cooke/CBC)
While many specifics remain to be seen, Efford said news of new licences should come within a week. He said outside buyers will need to apply to the provincial government to buy fish from Newfoundland and Labrador. The applications will be assessed by a panel.
"I think we're there," Efford told reporters. "Again, there may be some small, fine-tuning that has to be done. But essentially I think we're there."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 2:31 PM
Subject: Re: Attn Jason Carrier of the RCMP
To: <communications@ffaw.ca>
RNC pursuing charges after police horses struck during protest
Fish harvesters blame police for man's broken hip
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says it's pursuing criminal charges after two of its police horses were struck during a tense exchange with fish harvesters and police outside Confederation Building on Wednesday.
"There are specific Criminal Code violations for injuries against a law enforcement animal which will be pursued," wrote RNC communications director Danielle Barron in an email.
Barron pointed to the charge of wilfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or a bird.
Video captured by CBC News shows one man slapping a police horse on the hindquarters and another pulling on the horse's harness as the animals closed in on individuals blocking the entrance. It is unclear which incident the police force is referring to when discussing the potential of laying charges.
During a news conference hours later, Premier Andrew Furey said there was a "fairly significant injury" to one RNC officer, who was seen being taken away by ambulance. No details have been released on the severity of the injury; however, the RNC said the injury occurred during a "rush" from protesters.
"Some of the videos that I've seen punching horses and assaulting individuals … that's unacceptable and the police have a job to do and as they will continue to do today," Furey said.
The
Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says two of its horses were struck by
demonstrators which forced the mounted unit to retreat from the area. (Mark Quinn/CBC)
During that same skirmish as police attempted — and failed — to escort public servants into the building, fish harvester Richard Martin of Shoe Cove was injured and taken to hospital.
John Efford Jr. told CBC News that Martin broke his hip after an exchange with police.
Video from the scene does not show what happens before Martin is on the ground.
"This is your fault, motherf--ker," another fisherman yells, pointing to a police officer. "You should be ashamed of yourself."
Fish harvester Jason Sullivan called the injury "needless."
"You could tell by the way that people were congregated around the entrances that, you know, no one was getting in. There was no need of the RNC running at people with horses, trying to drive them and scare them away," Sullivan said.
In a statement released shortly before 3:30 p.m. NT, the RNC said its response was "not unlike other demonstrations of similar size" and it respects the right to a peaceful protest.
"We continue to ask that all demonstrators remain respectful, peaceful and lawful," the statement says.
"Disruptive activities may lead to arrests and criminal charges under relevant Criminal Code sections, for example mischief, causing a disturbance, unlawful assembly, etc."
With files from The Signal
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:48:53 -0400
Subject: Fwd: Attn Jason Carrier of the RCMP
To: Jason.Carrier@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:40:51 -0400
Subject: Attn Jason Carrier of the RCMP
To: Jason.Carrier@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Cc: "Greta.Bossenmaier"<Greta.Bossenmaier@hq.nato.int>, washington
field <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>, "Mark.Blakely"
<Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, "martin.gaudet"
<martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2024/02/one-picture-says-thousand-words.html
Statement from Minister Loveless on Fisheries Discussions
March 22, 2024
The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, issued the enclosed statement regarding meetings held with FFAW and some of its harvester members.
“Earlier today, I met with Greg Pretty, President of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW), and some of the union’s harvester members to continue discussions regarding agreeable changes that will move the fishing industry forward for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, particularly those in more rural communities.
I am pleased to share that it was a productive meeting that has led to positive outcomes intended to support FFAW harvesters, plant workers, and all stakeholders in our province’s valuable fishing industry. We all share the same goal of seeing an organized start to the 2024 fishing season.
Our government will continue to work with the FFAW, the Association of Seafood Producers, and other fisheries stakeholders on these and other issues in the fishery as we continue to recognize the value of the industry and the hard-working individuals working within it.”
-30-
MEDIA RELEASE: Harvester & Processor Reps Walk Out of Capelin Advisory, Extremist ENGOs Appointed Participants
The 2+3 Capelin advisory kicked off this morning in Gander, with virtual and in person participation. Late this morning, participants were informed that ENGOs Oceans North and Oceana were changed from observer to stakeholder status, giving the extremist organizations who actively work to shut down the commercial fishery an active seat at the table. Harvesters and processors, who both hold true stakeholder status in the advisory processes, agreed that there is no place for these types of organizations at the table. These representatives walked out of the meeting in protest of DFO’s decision, and the meeting ended without the presentation of science information.
###
Inquiries, please email cglode@ffaw.ca
FFAW Responds to ASP Media Statement, Lack of Capacity Still Core of Protests
FFAW adamantly disputes ASP’s claim that lifting provincial processing caps will harm existing processing plant workers. To be clear, the vast majority of fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador experience trouble finding a reliable buyer for their catch.
This is not a one-off problem, in a single fishery. This is a widespread, systemic issue facing the provincial processing landscape in our province.
FFAW-Unifor inherently supports keeping work in our province. Longer seasons and more work is better for everyone involved in the inshore fishery.
Harvesters are not able to land their allotted quotas because the plant they are tied to either refuses to – or cannot due to caps – buy their product. Combined with dramatic decreases in prices last year, and similarly dramatic increases in expenses, the inshore owner-operator fishery is confronting an acute breaking point.
Thousands of owner-operator enterprises are facing bankruptcy, while the small handful of corporations that control the fishery get bigger and bigger. Competition in recent years has declined significantly. ASP member companies employ nearly half the crab processing workers now than when the province had similar quota levels.
Unfortunately, processing companies tell their workers that increasing market access for harvesters will mean losing their jobs. This is a lie, and a harmful one that drives our membership apart.
In recent years, rather than improve work for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, the majority of ASP member companies have focused on bringing in Temporary Foreign Workers. If these companies were so committed to coastal communities, emphasis would be put on finding ways to recruit and retain local workforce.
More competition is better for our fishery. It is better for fish harvesters, better for plant workers, and better for the long-term sustainability of coastal communities. Because one cannot survive without the other.
Demonstrations will continue tomorrow, Friday, March 22, 2024!
FFAW-Unifor
368 Hamilton Ave.
P.O. Box 10, Station C
St. John’s, NL, Canada
A1C 5H5
Phone: (709) 576-7276
Fax: (709) 576-1962
communications@ffaw.ca
Police don riot gear as N.L. Liberals make 2nd attempt at budget amid protests
Hundreds of protesters and police in riot gear stationed outside province's legislature
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador appears poised to push ahead with its provincial budget Thursday even as members of the media and an entire political party have opted to stay out.
The provincial NDP issued a press release at 10 a.m. NT saying its members would not attend the budget, as hundreds of fish harvesters protested outside Confederation Building in St. John's.
The protest was met by dozens of Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers in riot gear.
"The premier has let the situation get out of control," said NDP Leader Jim Dinn in the press release. "If the premier had shown the same determination in resolving this issue even a year ago, as he has demonstrated in pushing his own agenda, we wouldn't need police in riot gear."
A spokesperson for the government sent a memo to reporters at 8 a.m., saying the budget would be going ahead. They followed up later, telling reporters to enter the building with a police escort at 9:30 a.m.
At least five of the province's media outlets — CBC, NTV, VOCM and the St. John's Telegram — opted not to cross the protest line. CBC executive producer Peter Gullage cited safety concerns and uncertainty in minute-by-minute decisions being made by the provincial government.
Before the media agreed not to cross the protest line, the provincial government had already cancelled budget lock-ins — when groups are given copies of the budget to review in advance of its official release — for unions and members of the public due to safety concerns. Those decisions were not relayed to media outlets.
Demonstration organizer John Efford Jr. speaks to a crowd of protesters
on Thursday morning, telling them to not incite others. (Terry
Roberts/CBC)
Earlier in the morning, police were seen having a cordial conversation with protest leaders, urging them to avoid a repeat of Wednesday's raucous events — particularly with a court-ordered injunction now in place that prohibits protesters from blocking safe access to Confederation Building, which is both home to the legislature and the main government complex.
Protest leader John Efford Jr. addressed the crowd a few minutes later.
"We're just going to make our presence known to the people that are going to work this morning. But we are going to be peaceful," he said over a megaphone. "Do not, do not get caught up in cat-calling. Do not get caught up in incitement. If anybody says anything to you today, say, 'Have a nice day.'"
Protesters demanding changes in fishing industry
The group of mostly fish harvesters has been protesting since early March on a number of conditions. For one, they want to be allowed to sell their catch to buyers outside the province. As it stands, they can sell only to buyers within the province at a price negotiated by the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union and the Association of Seafood Producers.
They also want processing limits lifted on independent fish plants to allow them to compete with the few companies that largely control processing in the province.
"Basically our message is free enterprise," Efford Jr. told CBC News on Thursday morning, adding the current system is "against what Canada believes in."
While the provincial government has committed to acting on both demands for the crab fishery — a lucrative but time-limited season that opens in the spring — the protesters say they want the concessions for all species.
Efford said they feel the discussions have put all options on the table, but with crab season fast approaching, he wants to see concrete solutions.
"All they're giving us is a general [message] that they will look at it," Efford Jr. said. "But we need specifics. This won't work without specific detail as to what they are going to do."
The Association of Seafood Producers, which has been mostly quiet throughout the protests, cancelled a news conference planned for Thursday morning with an hour's notice. No reason was given, but the group said it would provide a press release later in the day.
The police are now tasked with enforcing an injunction that a Supreme Court of Newfoundland justice handed down during Wednesday's chaos and commotion.
The injunction prevents anyone from blocking access to the building or interfering with public servants.
Things got ugly Wednesday morning when government workers tried to enter the building and were turned back by a throng of protesters. Demonstrators clashed with police officers and horses, with one protester and one officer being sent to hospital to be treated for injuries. The RNC said it will be pursuing charges against protesters who struck police horses during the melee.
Will a budget be introduced?
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey was adamant Wednesday that the budget will be introduced, saying it's just a matter of when.
Furey said he was disappointed by the actions of "some" protesters but his government won't be stopped from proceeding with important business for the citizens of the province.
.png?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:*510w)
"There will be a budget for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, full stop. That is the intent," he said. "When it is safe to do so, people can enter the building, and we will do it."
Police donned riot gear on Thursday morning, a step up from their response the previous day. As of 6:30 a.m., about two dozen officers were guarding the rear entrance of the building, which is most commonly used by government officials to access their offices.
By
8:30 a.m., protesters had moved closer to the doors of Confederation
Building and closer to the line of police officers in riot gear. (Darrell Roberts/CBC)
CBC News will be following the story throughout the day and will provide regular updates.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from The Current
534 Comments
Liberal MHAs alone on N.L. budget day, as all other members decline to cross protest line
Hundreds of protesters and police in riot gear stationed outside province's legislature
The government of Newfoundland and Labrador appears poised to push ahead with its provincial budget Thursday even as opposing political parties have opted to stay out.
The provincial NDP issued a press release at 10 a.m. NT saying its members would not attend the budget, as hundreds of fish harvesters protested outside Confederation Building in St. John's. Speaking to protesters before noon, Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham announced his party would do the same.
Radio-Canada has confirmed both Independent MHAs have also declined to attend.
The protest was met by dozens of Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers in riot gear, with tensions high throughout the morning.
"The premier has let the situation get out of control," said NDP Leader Jim Dinn in a press release. "If the premier had shown the same determination in resolving this issue even a year ago, as he has demonstrated in pushing his own agenda, we wouldn't need police in riot gear."
A spokesperson for the government sent a memo to reporters at 8 a.m., saying the budget would be going ahead. The usual "lock-in" for reporters — in which journalists can read budget documents and ask questions of politicians and officials — was rearranged after four of the province's media outlets opted not to cross the protest line together under police watch. A shorter briefing is being held at another location, with the budget expected to be released at 2 p.m.
The government had already cancelled similar briefings for unions, community leaders and others due to safety concerns. Those decisions were not relayed to media outlets.
Protester
Jamy Lee Foss records himself and Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
officers in riot gear at Confederation Building on Thursday morning. (Darrell Roberts/CBC)
Earlier in the morning, police were seen having a cordial conversation with protest leaders, urging them to avoid a repeat of Wednesday's raucous events — particularly with a court-ordered injunction now in place that prohibits protesters from blocking safe access to Confederation Building, which is both home to the legislature and the main government complex.
Protest leader John Efford Jr. addressed the crowd a few minutes later.
"We're just going to make our presence known to the people that are going to work this morning. But we are going to be peaceful," he said over a megaphone. "Do not, do not get caught up in cat-calling. Do not get caught up in incitement. If anybody says anything to you today, say, 'Have a nice day.'"
Protesters demanding changes in fishing industry
The group of mostly fish harvesters has been protesting since early March on a number of conditions. For one, they want to be allowed to sell their catch to buyers outside the province. As it stands, they can sell only to buyers within the province at a price negotiated by the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union and the Association of Seafood Producers.
They also want processing limits lifted on independent fish plants to allow them to compete with the few companies that largely control processing in the province.
"Basically our message is free enterprise," Efford told CBC News on Thursday morning, adding the current system is "against what Canada believes in."
While the provincial government has committed to acting on both demands for the crab fishery — a lucrative but time-limited season that opens in the spring — the protesters say they want the concessions for all species.
Efford said they feel the discussions have put all options on the table, but with crab season fast approaching, he wants to see concrete solutions.
"All they're giving us is a general [message] that they will look at it," Efford said. "But we need specifics. This won't work without specific detail as to what they are going to do."
Police
formed a line outside Confederation Building on Thursday morning,
wearing riot gear. Other police wore tactical gear with carbine rifles. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)
The Association of Seafood Producers, which has been mostly quiet throughout the protests, cancelled a news conference planned for Thursday morning with an hour's notice. No reason was given, but the group said it would provide a press release later in the day.
The police are now tasked with enforcing an injunction that a Supreme Court of Newfoundland justice handed down during Wednesday's chaos and commotion.
The injunction prevents anyone from blocking access to the building or interfering with public servants.
Things got ugly Wednesday morning when government workers tried to enter the building and were turned back by a throng of protesters. Demonstrators clashed with police officers and horses, with one protester and one officer being sent to hospital to be treated for injuries. The RNC said it will be pursuing charges against protesters who struck police horses during the melee.
Police served the injunction to two people deemed the protest organizers, Efford and Jason Spingle, Thursday morning. They did not appear at a hearing at Supreme Court to contest it, meaning the order remains in place, unchanged.
Another hearing to extend the order, if needed, has been set for April 15.
Will a budget be introduced?
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey was adamant Wednesday that the budget will be introduced, saying it's just a matter of when.
Furey said he was disappointed by the actions of "some" protesters but his government won't be stopped from proceeding with important business for the citizens of the province.
.png?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:*510w)
"There will be a budget for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, full stop. That is the intent," he said. "When it is safe to do so, people can enter the building, and we will do it."
Police donned riot gear on Thursday morning, a step up from their response the previous day. As of 6:30 a.m., about two dozen officers were guarding the rear entrance of the building, which is most commonly used by government officials to access their offices.
Demonstration organizer John Efford Jr. speaks to a crowd of protesters
on Thursday morning, telling them to not incite others. (Terry
Roberts/CBC)
CBC News will be following the story throughout the day and will provide regular updates.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from The Current
Efford says son's illegal fishing charge "matter for courts"
Newfoundland's Fisheries Minister says the courts will decide if his son is guilty of fishing violations John Efford Junior has been charged with illegally fishing for squid and with operating a boat without the proper registration.
In a story in the Telegram, Efford Senior accuses the Department of Fisheries of trying to get at him by going after his son. The Fisheries Minister said on Tuesday that he made the statement after an extremely difficult Monday. He says he can't take it back, no matter how much he might want to.
He now says he's leaving the judgement of the case up to the court.
Efford Jr. guilty of illegal squidding
The son of Provincial Fisheries Minister John Efford has pleaded guilty to illegally jigging squid.
John Efford Junior was fined $500.
The charge of illegal squidding was one of two laid by Federal Fisheries. He was also charged with operating a vessel without the proper registration.
That charge was dropped.
Former cabinet minister John Efford dead at 77
Efford served in federal, provincial cabinets
Former Newfoundland and Labrador provincial and federal politician John Efford has died. He was 77.
In a statement, Efford's family said he died in hospital in Carbonear on Sunday.
"Dad was a proud and passionate Newfoundlander who deeply loved this province and its people.… He always wore his heart on his sleeve," daughter Jackie said in the statement.
"His many years of public service and commitment to making a difference in the lives of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians was second to none."
Efford was a cabinet minister during much of the provincial Liberal governments of the 1990s. (CBC)
Efford sat in Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly from 1985 to 2001 as the MHA for Port de Grave.
He ran for the provincial Liberal leadership in 2001, losing to Roger Grimes by just 14 votes.
Efford moved on to federal politics and was elected to the House of Commons as an MP in 2002.
He served in the Liberal government for the next three years, with part of his time in office spent as the minister of natural resources, including when Newfoundland and Labrador reached a new agreement with the federal government on the Atlantic Accord in 2005.
Efford retired from politics in 2006 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017.
He went public with his diagnosis in an interview with CBC News two years later in hopes of raising awareness of the disease and rallying for more research and scientific advances.
Premier Andrew Furey offered his condolences Sunday, calling Efford "a force."
"Without a doubt, John was one of Newfoundland and Labrador's most recognizable and colourful figures, inside and outside the political arena," Furey said in a statement.
"I am glad to have called John a friend and send condolences to his family and friends on behalf of the provincial government."
The province will said it will fly flags at all government buildings at half-mast from sunrise to sunset until Efford's funeral.
Pam Parsons, MHA for Efford's former seat in the Harbour Grace-Port de Grave district, said Efford was always by her side, supporting her.
"John Efford was a pioneer and a leader out here in this region, and across our province, ultimately. But he was also a family friend," she said.
Premier
Danny Williams and Prime Minister Paul Martin watch the Atlantic Accord
being signed by federal Natural Resources Minister John Efford, front
right, and Newfoundland and Labrador Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan.
In a statement, former prime minister Paul Martin said he was saddened to learn of his former cabinet minister's death.
"John had a remarkable political career in Ottawa and in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was a passionate advocate for his constituents, for the province he loved, for its fishing industry as well as the communities that depend on it," Martin said.
"He never shied away from any challenge in his years as a provincial and federal advocate and faced them all with resolve and kindness. He was an extraordinary public servant, a cherished colleague and a friend."
Former premier Danny Williams remembered Efford's dedication to Newfoundland and Labrador.
"I had a deep admiration for his absolute commitment to serving the people of our province," Williams said in a statement.
"His love for Newfoundland and Labrador and for those he represented was unwavering, and a testament to what it is to be a public servant. His legacy will certainly be a lasting one."
Efford's family has asked for privacy. A celebration of life will be held at a later date due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Roles - Hon. Ruben John Efford
Current and Past
Member of Parliament
Political Affiliation
Offices and Roles as a Parliamentarian
Committees
Parliamentary Associations and Interparliamentary Groups
Election Candidate
| Date | Election Type | Constituency | Province / Territory | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2004 | General Election | Avalon | Newfoundland and Labrador | Re-Elected |
| May 13, 2002 | By-election | Bonavista—Trinity—Conception | Newfoundland and Labrador | Elected |
Beware of anything the government agrees to.