Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans...

...gives best reason yet to sue the feds over the groundfish stocks collapse.

After "Fisheries Conservation Ambassador Loyola Sullivan and I recently travelled to Spain and Portugal" the Minister spews - as if that's not enough to make any Newfoundlander and Labrador gag or run out and buy some hockey tickets - he goes on in this News Statement to say the following:

I have watched with curious amusement as some people who were responsible for the creation and implementation of the old, failed NAFO system speak out. Unfortunately, they are 30 years too late. Perhaps if they had been so diligent in raising concerns when they were being paid by the Canadian public to do so, our stocks might not be in the shape they are today.

Now this is just the ramblings of a man - who became a boy (Federal Minister) - as he and his leader broke promise after promise to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - and Canadians. However if one can put aside that the Loyola's both with "fisheries" backgrounds from the shore and both with parliamentary power - opposition and government - are probably just as much to blame as the bureaucrats they take swipes at - then we can see the practical components of the Minister's statement.

What Loyola Hearn is claiming - is that federal public servants did not tell federal politicians and the public that federal policies and international treaties were decimating Newfoundland and Labrador's most important renewable industry.

The truth is - Loyola H is taking a hit for missing significant components of proposed NAFO changes and taking a hit for components that may yet still destroy our fisheries autonomy. Loyola S is taking a hit for bailing on the province and taking a job from Ottawa despite the feds screwing us on equalization - and of course the hockey tickets. This does not change however - the fact that Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has mused on the feds destruction of our fish stocks.

So let's see the boys in action - take that accusation Minister and present it to your colleagues in Ottawa to see if they will pony up the 500 million a year compensation - until the stocks recover - if they ever do.

Then as if to drive the last nail in the coffin of rural Newfoundland and Labrador - Hearn forgets - once again - that this province is where his heart should be - by stating:

During and after the NAFO meeting, Canada's New Government will be working to ensure our hard fought reforms are fully implemented, and that Canada is now taking its role as a global leader in fisheries management.

Giving away that last lonely fish...

That's the title of a column today in the Chronicle Herald - Nova Scotia.

The story is a continuation of the concerns expressed by Bob Applebaum and Gus Etchegary over potential changes to NAFO.

This piece is worth reading if we care at all about our fishery. Something which our provincial politicians are not "con"vincing me they are.

Here's a couple of paragraphs from the column by Jim Meek:

Ottawa, in short, has severely weakened its ability to manage and conserve trans-boundary stocks in the area of the Grand Banks. It is cold comfort that there are so few fish left to protect in what were once the best fishing grounds on the planet.

And it’s colder comfort that this is the federal government that came to power promising to extend Canada’s "custodial management" of fish stocks beyond the 200-mile zone.

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As for Loyola Hearn - what should we expect?

PEI drops lawsuit against Feds - Will we pay the Price?

PEI drops Lawsuit against Feds over fisheries management...according to a Canadian Press Story.

The action, launched two years ago by the former provincial Conservative government - challenged the absolute constitutional power of the federal minister to make licensing and management decisions.

It appears the legal challenge - which had no guarantee of being successful - was becoming too costly and apparently the government of PEI and the feds are making some headway in negotiations.

Provincial Fisheries Minister Allan Campbell cited progress on some outstanding issues, such as the herring seiner exclusion line - which the Minister says has been resolved.

Now what's next on the negotiation agenda? According to Ed Frenette - managing director of the PEI Fishermen's Association:

It rests now on negotiations between the two levels of government to increase access to various resources for Island fishers: specifically snow crab, shrimp and ground fish.

So Newfoundland and Labrador fishers - my question is and yours should be - what regional share of crab - shrimp - and ground fish? Now that Loyola Hearn and PEI appear to be cozy - and the law-suit is gone - will we pay part of the price with resources adjacent to us?

Maybe we should sue the feds - we might get some cooperation on our fisheries issues.