and it comes real expensive...
Fisheries Products International - Newfoundland and Labrador's super fish company - destroyed by incompetence and neglect.
It's amusing to watch the Government (both levels) - the Opposition - and the Union discuss the proper way to give John Risley and Bill Barry what they want.
They discuss the mechanisms and deals that would be appropriate to let skimmer Risley take the value of the marketing arm and bottom-feeder Barry pick up the remainder of the assets.
Risley skims - he takes a otherwise economically healthy and socially responsible company - and turns it upside-down in a fit of childish retribution for the failed NEOS attempt - while skimming the cream of the top.
Barry bottom feeds - he waits in anticipation of the failure of some company or another and scoops up the assets for next to nothing.
Neither - despite their claims of concern - spent anytime dealing with or fighting for justice on behalf of Newfoundland and Labrador - that is the collapse of the cod and groundfish stocks. This is the reason there are too few fish for too many fishermen. Federal mismanagement has destroyed the biomass and left this province to suffer from mass outmigration and death of many rural communities. It has torn families apart and crushed many small business operators.
What are the politicians doing? Doing what they always do - nothing. They all are guilty of keeping things quiet - to let the public cool down and the extra people - we apparently no longer need - leave. Doug House a consultant for both the Tories and the Liberals has the job of examining the social consequences of a dead fishery and finding the best way to mitigate the damage to the politicians.
We still control this corporation and we still call the shots - or at least Cabinet does - as to what they can sell - and the feds still control the quota. Through this destruction - Williams kept the public quiet by barring them from hearings - the feds agreed. He held a super conference last year - no media allowed - and had a select group direct them to the easiest political route.
The politicians have been buying time since the early nineties - hoping that the exodus of people from rural Newfoundland and Labrador would be completed in dribs and drabs so as not to put a visual on what is a destruction of our population. The Union - well they have managed the damage as well. Just look at the record - especially the latest round of hearings - what union would not welcome and certainly invite a public that supported it's members.
There has always been a few healthy fighters in each community loss or downsizing - but the politicians and union managed them by using elected town officials and union members who could mitigate the outcry.
What can we say - they were managing their own futures first by sheltering us from the real destruction happening around us.
You can tell a bluff - Danny for instance - barking at Abitibi - growling at the oil companies and hissing at the Prime Minister over the Accord while he sits silent on the fishery and the obvious personal injury done to Newfoundland and Labrador biggest and renewable natural resource - the fishery. As a good businessman he has written off this sector as the backbone of rural Newfoundland and Labrador because you don't want to send good money after bad - right? As a lawyer however he is missing the obvious - in that there is a good case to seek significant compensation for significant losses - and still hold the feds accountable to rebuild the stocks. If this was his own business and the entity was failing for reasons outside the mismanagement or negligence by a third party - he would be in there with his "who will fight for you" branding. But it is not his business and his income does not rely on the fishery nor will his family suffer or have to move to Alberta because of it.
You can tell a bluff - Current Liberal Leader - past Fisheries Minister - MHA for the historic fishing area of Fogo - Twillingate - born in the grand community of Carbonear one of the oldest settlements in Newfoundland. Here look at the part of the bio:
Gerald Reid was born in Carbonear, one of six children. He was educated at James Moore High School and upon graduating from high school, went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and a Masters Degree in Philosophy from Memorial University. While at Memorial University, he was active in politics and served a term as the President of the Memorial Liberal Association.
After graduating from Memorial, Gerry accepted a teaching position at Coaker Academy on New World Island. While living there, he became involved in municipal politics and served three years as a councillor in Summerford.
From 1989 to 1996, he served as executive assistant to fisheries ministers Walter Carter and Dr. Bud Hulan. In this capacity, he gained considerable knowledge of the fishing industry and government in general.
In February 1996, Mr. Reid was successful in his bid to become MHA for the newly formed district of Twillingate - Fogo, one of the largest districts in the province. He was re-elected in the February 1999 general election and later that year, was named Government Whip. He was appointed parliamentary secretary to the premier in his role as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and in February 2001 he was appointed Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, a position he held for two years. On February 13, 2003, Mr. Reid was appointed Minister of Education. Mr. Reid was reelected in the General Election on October 21, 2003.
On May 31, 2005, Mr. Reid became interim Leader of the Opposition. He also has shadow portfolio responsibilities for Intergovernmental Affairs and Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Where is the fight? Where is the call for the cessation of the destruction of FPI - where is the call for the cessation of destruction in rural Newfoundland and Labrador? Hardly leading a charge to fight this injustice - is he? Is there any life left? Is there any bone of pride in our heritage left? Is there any desire to fight for our future left?
Oliver Langdon - MHA for Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune - FISHING HERITAGE - like no other - yet he played a significant role in managing the downsizing of the great community of Harbour Breton and has left the mess in the hands of Bill Barry - while celebrating that day as a great day for that community. You are joking right? No he's not - but it's easier than doing the right thing. Lead you people into the battle and lead them out the other side victorious. Fighting Newfoundlanders? Not a beret in sight.
Tom Rideout - hat on head - back of a pick-up - giving it to her like he was Craig Sharpe singing "Oh Danny Boy" evoking feelings of the fight? What fight? He will help to manage the affairs of the Barry Group - the Penney Group - the Risley Group - whatever it takes to make it all just go away. A Premier - A Minister - a Peckford Boy - should be hauling a few turbot up himself for a good brawl. Tired - he is - tired and laden with portfolios Danny won't give to Beth Marshall. One day he and Hearn are smacking each other - the next day ego stroking back and forth as Canada fails to take custodial management of the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and Flemish Cap.
In comes John Crosbie - back yet for perhaps and hopefully last blast from the townie merchant tribe that fought confederation and then caused everybody else to need it. Fisheries Minister - Federal - Provincial - Mr. Moratorium and Tags and ENCARP - and whatever else he could muster to save Canada from the legal responsibility. He speaks the local media are tripping over themselves to get an interview with the wise man. The man who - in my opinion - single handedly did more to rid the feds of their constitutional responsibilities than any before or after him - heaves back on the easy chair waiting for Rick Mercer to come along and do another comedy gig - or for Marjorie to call Bill or Randy or ... to thank god for Mr. Crosbie. What on god's earth has he done? He's still making excuses for the feds. He makes Joe who? look like a genius. He can curse with the best of em - crack sexist homour with the best of em - put on an act of bravado with the best of em - but at the end of our day - he has failed the fishery and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Where's Earl? Earl is where he wants to be and will be till he wants to retire - he's built a group of minions who are in good favour with his mafia like style of governance. How many times have I talked to a fishermen from some community or other who has not said "we'd like to fight but Earl has got control here - this fellow or that fellow with the union - is telling people to pipe it down. There was a time that Earl would have to put up the charade of a fight - like the time at the waterfront - in order to get re-elected. He does not even have to do that anymore. Earl just needs enough paying members to keep the business afloat.
Dicky Cashin - Alastair O'Reilly - Leslie Harris - Eric Dunne - David Vardy - Art May - Doug House - Michael Kirby - Aidan Maloney - and so on...Who has saved the fishery? Who among them has not played a role in this continued travesty?
Where are our people? I hear the Fisheries Broadcast - probably the last bit of fight you'll hear from those gasping for air as they scream to be heard in a closed chamber. These people - those that are not contrived by the union or Ministers - know the truth - they are slow to accept that the people have abandoned them. They are in the trenches on their own.
It is painful to watch this demise - and I am not prone to watch - but I like them am suffering the painful death of our province - as if at a movie theatre. We close our eyes - hold our breath - pray for help - beg for mercy - and don't think people that are losing everything do not do these things - when all of our leaders have deserted us - AWOL - but then again who's going to call them on it. Then the townies - sipping the capa - playing investor online - gotta get the game of golf in - need a break down south - time for a beer and watch a good game of hockey. Oh yes they watch it they play it they idolize the grown men making a few million a year chasing the rubber disc - or Tiger as he goes for the title - despite the loss of his father. If we could just pump the testosterone into these people - our leaders - at a level they produce while Toronto playing Montreal - we'd have the whole damn works cleaned up. But there is no fun in standing in front of U-Hauls or marching to the hill - or beating the doors of parliament - that's too much work for very little personal gain.
Hey Trevor - you're dory failed to make it - next time use some duct tape.
Loyola Hearn - Loyola Sullivan - Charlie Power - Fabian Manning - Bill Matthews. They got it in them right?
Listen - out of all the MP's in the House of Commons we have 22 farmers who are there to fight for their industry and it's working. In comparison there are 2 commercial fishermen and both represent Ontario riding's.
No guts left - hey people - Danny he's the best thing we ever had. Don't get to excited Premier - look at what came before ya.
So the last and final nail in the coffin of FPI is coming - and the make-up of the fishery will never be the same - Good for Barry - Good for Penney - Good for Risley - Great for the Federal Government - as we let them off the hook from one of the most dastardly deeds ever perpetrated on a people.
Good for you Premier and all the MHA's who sit in silence - good for you mayors and councillors - don't worry - politics does that to ya - after hearing so much family destruction - pitiful stories of torment - sorrowful pleas from those left behind - you have become desensitized. Retire out of it will you - please - and to the media - let Tobin - and Crosbie - and Peckford - and the rest live in peace on the pensions they earned by screwing this province and her people.
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