Where's the Rideout Letter?

On September 27 -06 Sue's Blog posted Loyola Hearn's comments on open line regarding the outcome of the NAFO meetings - where Canada capitulated and did not deliver custodial management on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and Flemish Cap - despite Loyola Hearn's pre-election promise to do just that.

On the open line show Loyola said:

Randy:

There seems to be within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador based on the few responses we’ve had on the open air waves about it – a certain feeling about it, that this doesn’t really have any teeth – this is really not making any kind of a difference this is diverting us away from things like custodial management. How do you respond to that?

Loyola:

I think what we should ask there Randy is who is saying that you know we have a bunch of armchair philosophers naysayers members of the opposition who wont’ agree with whatever you do what I suggest is you talk to people in the industry you talk to the union who was there Mr. McCurdy was at these meetings you talk to the provincial government I met with premier Williams before the NAFO meeting clearly outlined to him what we were hoping to achieve himself and the deputy minister of fisheries ah Minister Rideout wasn’t there ..I had a letter from Minister Rideout after that meeting basically outlining what the provincial government would like to see just formally because it was exactly what we had said we were looking for..ah they were there at the meeting and very supportive.. ah our people industry the provincial government the members who were there along with our own team stood together collectively ah not to give anything but to get a lot we have completely and utterly reformed NAFO we have given NAFO the teeth that we said we could do …ah as all of these agreements are put in legislative framework and everything is copper fastened we will see over the next few weeks and months that the NAFO of last year compared to the NAFO of this year are two entirely different organizations…

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Where's the letter? Today Tom Rideout says the Province still maintains the position that custodial management is necessary.

In part Rideout's speaking notes to the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans reads:

While the accomplishments at the NAFO meeting are significant, the implementation of these measures has yet to be tested. We need to see these new policies in action, and until we are confident that they will effectively address non-compliance, we do not see this as a substitution for Canadian custodial management.

Indeed, Newfoundland and Labrador continues to support custodial management to protect weakened fish stocks.

By applying custodial management out to the edge of the continental shelf, Canada would manage the stocks that currently straddle the 200 mile limit. This would ensure consistent application of resource conservation measures, while respecting the established shares of other nations. It will also ensure the application of the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFA).

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Which is it Minister Hearn? Why were you suggesting that your moves on NAFO were satisfactory and in harmony with the Province? Why do you continue to mislead the public? Where's the letter you received from the Province? Let the people judge for themselves.