New PC leader will come from Outside

The PC race - so to speak - is remarkably active.

A party at 20% in the polls usually finds it tough to grab serious interest from the outside - but this time it's different. There's significant cash and wealth on the line.

The Liberals have elected a competent, successful, professional - who just happens not to be one of the backroom elite. The money - old and new - and the political establishment in Newfoundland and Labrador were not successful in electing their candidate for Liberal leader. As I've said before - Dwight Ball is a people's leader and will be a people's Premier after the next election.

So - the boy's club - thinking they could count on taking over the Liberal Party in the wake of a disastrous performance by the current government - were left surprised. Up until a few months ago - if all else failed they might have gone the Jack Harris/NDP route.

There is no doubt the boys will be very careful this time around. They need somebody who can make corporate resource giveaways look like the people just won the lottery. Considering most of the current PC MHA's don't have that "X"factor - most not even considered Cabinet material - the new leader has to be a savior.

If the boys had managed to own the Liberal Party the PC's would be doing the usual government on the way out thing - where a few sitting members would run as caretaker while they sit out a new Liberal rule.

So what's likely then?

Inside we can see possibly:
                             Team King
                             Team Dalley
                             Team Davis
Commoners
Outside it may be the:
                             Team Barry McDonald Tobin
                             Team Powers Penney Sullivans
Establishment
I suspect Danny may be either  - as either can meet his needs - as a citizen.

Marshall - who has always been there - just in case - oops correcter is now the Interim Premier leaving him to stay neutral - so to speak - that is continue to help usher for the feature film. Marshall - interim of everything (thereby confirming the lack of depth in the back bench) gets to have the title - be the boss - and protect the boat until a new skipper can be found.

Powers - who so coincidentally was introduced as a guest VOCM talkshow host over the past year - is now known more broadly by the electorate. He's well known in the lobbyist and corporate masters arena.

Barry - is a provincial character - fish merchant - I believe is a Gates type individual - wherein if we give him all the money - all the fish - all resources - he'd be happy to give some back to what he considers worthwhile causes and people. Competition not needed.

Both have enemies and both represent the establishment.

Question is which one can they sell to the people? Maybe neither - so they will be looking further afield for a back-up just in case.

At this time I predict - the new leader will come from the outside - in order that the resource giveaways keep a coming.

This is going to be a real test for the people of the province. Do they support the establishment  merchant or the leader of the people?

Warm and Fuzzy Corporate Support for Muskrat

Records may suggest corporate donation to Tory MP Penashue CBC headline:

Read Story HERE

Of course Corporate donations are illegal. 

No need to worry though - they too support the Muskrat Falls deal. I really believe now...

OCI's Written Criticisms of Darin King and Government

The following are statements made by Ocean Choice International (OCI) in official Media Releases. 

"At the core of the issue is overregulation in the fishing industry. The company says this is the only fishing jurisdiction in the world with restrictions which impede the growth of the fishing industry and make it uncompetitive in the global marketplace."

"Martin Sullivan, President and CEO of Ocean Choice International, said today his company has been very cooperative with the provincial government regarding the current proposals on flatfish and redfish, and he was disappointed to hear government make comments to the contrary late last week. Sullivan said remarks by fisheries minister Darin King have left global customers, employees and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador questioning the credibility of the company, something he said should never have happened."

"Ocean Choice International remains committed to addressing required change in the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, its CEO, Martin Sullivan, said today. The company is deeply disappointed, however, in the provincial government’s public remarks today that call into question the company’s credibility as a significant employer in the fishing industry in the province."

Based on Darin King's actions toward the FFAW for criticizing the government - what does he have planned for OCI?

To read the three Media Releases Press HERE

Darin King about to investigate OCI Operations? Fin in Mouth disease!

So our Fisheries Minister continued today - on a local talk show - to prove that his government is vindictive toward critics.

The Minister was all over the place unsure if he was against criticism or not - for punishment or not - in charge or not - or simply too frustrated to do his job.

The Minister now wants to restate his position from yesterday - when he informed Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that they may be punished if they criticize the government. Today he removed a million bucks from the FFAW because union chief Earl MacCurdy said the government was not spending it's money in the right places - within the industry.

So the Minister wants us to believe that of the over 50 million spent by government - only 1/50th of which is for special projects with the union - the only immediate concern was that of the FFAW. Darin you believe that Earl was saying that their projects were not worthwhile - so it was okay to start by cutting that?

No you did not believe that Minister King - do not lie. The FFAW was questioning how some investments of the government in the fishery might not be the best investments - so you - without any investigation cut the funds of the one group that spoke out?

Have you in any way contributed to the well-being of OCI? Have the people of Newfoundland and Labrador contributed any funds in any way whatsoever to that company? Has the government provided in any way - policy decisions - that were favourable to OCI?

I recall that OCI criticized King for denying its request for unprocessed export. The government has granted them exemptions in the past - right? Now that Ches and Company have criticized the Minister - how will they be punished?

King went on to talk about the frustration he feels when the FFAW talk about things that he (provincial fisheries Minister) does not have jurisdiction over (fish quota's). Minister - has the government stepped in on quota allocations before?

Where did OCI get all these assets anyway? Was FPI sold? What was sold? Buy it back.

While we are at it - now that OCI has criticized government - will you Minister King launch a full review of their operations and determine if government should be supporting anything at all that it asks for?

As for pointing the finger at the feds and saying it's them not us - and we can't criticize them because they punish critics - the same way you do - then we are all in a mess.

Perhaps it's time for Darin to be shuffled before he puts more fins in mouth.

Loyola Sullivan and his "messiah’s fisheries salvation"

Please read below a response by Dr. Phil Earle to Loyola Sullivan's address to the NL Employers' Council. 

The Sullivan's presentations this week, at the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers’ Council’s annual awards luncheon and appearances in the media, has been nothing but public deception. L Sullivan’s speech preposterously pontificated the salvation of our fishing industry and our fisher people. His pronouncements are nothing more than that of a personal, brain locked, cooperate philosophy, one which is destroying our Fishery.

The knowledge that explains the truth in the facts of the references that Mr. Sullivan used to support his messiah’s fisheries salvation of "the only way forward in the fishery’ ' is to modernize it the way I'm telling you', is not the saving of our fisheries future but it’s result will be, if followed, it’s tragedy. This is a destructive corporate philosophy,.. and efforts must be made to try and dissuade the influence it may have on Minister King and our government, dissuade them from giving what’s left of our resource over to OCI.

Imagine the audacity of saying that they know how to save and improve the fishery when they are directly responsible for closing numerous plants in 5 years, pitting our coastal people against each other...Marystown against Fortune, the trawlermen against trawlermen, saying members of the union are at odds with their union leaders. All the while they are sending fish out of here not processed, giving value added jobs by the thousands to elsewhere, and wanting all they can get to be FFT processed or given to Asia raw.

They have pitted industry people against each other, say that the government is harming them and the industry, and that we have an attitude in the province, of fishing like we did in the past and it is holding us back, all of which will destroy the Industry! The fact of it is what they are doing, from their powerful position in the industry, will lead to its total collapse... if.... our governments continue allowing them to rule the roost.

If OCI is allow to dictate the future of how we harvest and process our fish at home, in 10 years they will be out of business themselves, as will the industry as we know it. All that will remain will be the royalties they will receive from having Spanish fleets, and the like, fish their quotas. That is if there is anything left.

Imagine saying our government is not letting them compete with the rest of the world, when it has been their style of ineffectual competing which is destroying the stocks, harvesters, plant workers and their coastal way of life.

I get this image of our fishery... of a sock you missed in the washing machine, which is in the machine the next time you go to wash...a little squeezed up ball at the bottom and you reach in and take it out ....a cold, wet, bedraggled item. Our fishery is this beat up overlooked trashed out piece, of what was once part of something much, much larger, but is now something uncomfortable to touch or be involved with. And we have made it that way.

I hope to god, for the sake of our children and grandchildren that our government sees through this insanity of the ‘running of our fishery’ by the corporate book of modernization and success...because that will be, if permitted, the ruining of the fishery through the monopoly of greed and the insatiable wants of self.

Mother Nature has protected our fish stocks for eons, saving them from predations, diseases, shifts of temperatures and currents, the ice ages and the drift of continents ...but in all her wisdom she is not able to save our fish from fools. Only governments can do that.

Phil Earle

Minister Darin King's Fishy News Release

Below please find the News Release by Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture - Darin King.

I will highlight the concerns that I have with the statement. It looks like a public to and fro to demonstrate that the government is "protecting" our assets and people - but will the outcome at the end if the process give OCI what they want?

This looks like nothing more than a charade. I therefore will expect that OCI will attempt to pay off the people making noise by coming up with a package. King actually makes the complete case for OCI - and presents why OCI is having problems and how they understand this. If I were to guess I would suggest that what we were looking at here is exactly the deal that has been cut already with OCI. That's my take. Let's see what transpires. Export away - just not today.

 

Ocean Choice International’s Redfish and Yellowtail
Proposals Rejected by Provincial Government

After an extensive evaluation and review, the Provincial Government announced today that it is not satisfied that the redfish and yellowtail proposals presented by Ocean Choice International (OCI) provide the maximum possible benefit for the province.

“The Provincial Government sees no other option but to reject the groundfish proposals submitted by Ocean Choice International,” said the Honoruable Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “This decision is based on consideration for what is in the best interest of the people of this province. Government wanted to secure a long-term commitment on former Fishery Products International quotas. These quotas are currently held between the province and OCI, through the Quota Holdco agreement established in 2007. We also sought enhanced benefits in relation to Fortune, and adequate support for displaced workers at Marystown and Port Union.”

On January 25, the Provincial Government met with officials from Ocean Choice International and clearly outlined its position in relation to the proposals. Unfortunately, the company showed no flexibility at that time. The company was given time to reconsider but has not come forth with a revised proposal to date. 

“We recognize that this is a difficult situation for OCI,” said Minister King. “Their predecessors, Fishery Products International, faced similar challenges and had comparable financial results. The economic circumstances for yellowtail and redfish remain challenging, particularly with the appreciation of the Canadian dollar and high fuel costs.” 

OCI’s financial circumstances for groundfish operations have been independently verified by the financial consulting firm Deloitte. The market outlook for redfish and flatfish has also been independently verified by the McDowell Group, a research-based consulting firm. The McDowell Group report can be found at http://www.fishaq.gov.nl.ca/publications/nl_flounder_and_redfish_report.pdf.

The Provincial Government requested 10 million pounds of flatfish to be processed in Fortune which is marginal compared to the overall global harvest of 750,000 tonnes. The Provincial Government’s analysis shows that the overall groundfish operation will achieve positive, albeit modest earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

Secondly, OCI indicated the desire to have the landing obligations associated with the company’s licence extinguished when the Quota Holdco agreement is due for renewal in approximately five years. While the Provincial Government is willing to consider multi-year exemptions, it believes that under the current circumstances it is possible that quotas would be lost to the province entirely and the resource could be landed elsewhere without any value to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Minister King also noted today that he is disappointed that no action has been taken for displaced workers with regards to the Provincial Government’s request for the company to provide a top-up to the current Fish Plant Worker Employment Support Program. The company and the union have not met to advance these discussions.

“The Provincial Government’s analysis shows positive results by moving yellowtail production to Fortune and an export exemption being granted for the remainder of yellowtail landings and redfish,” said Minister King. “However, given the current circumstances, I have no choice but to reject OCI’s proposals. While government recognizes that reorganization and rationalization in the fishing industry is essential to our long-term success, we will continue to ensure the best possible outcome for the province for the present and for the future. Our government remains receptive if OCI wishes to reconsider their position.”

- 30 - 

Dr. Phil Earle weighs in on OCI and Exporting Policy

Dear Minister King, Jan 31/2012

At a time when both you and the Premier have made comments recently, pertaining to what power or right our government has on influencing NL companies which export our resources, I would like to communicate my concern on our practice of exporting raw and partially processed fish to foreign markets.

No doubt in some situations it would be appropriate for private companies to export raw, or otherwise partially processed products, out of our province. In this situation the company makes a profit, provides some jobs here and generally adds to the GDP of the province. However it is a totally different situation for the province, our government, our GDP and our people if the bulk, or large amounts, of these resources are shipped in this manner.

An example of this point is unfolding right now in our mining industry with the opening of the new mine in Labrador, where one company bidding for the contract, wants to ship out raw ore creating 200 jobs, and another who wants to produce concentrate pellets here creating 1700 jobs. The value added jobs and economic input into the communities of Labrador by our processing of the ore , may not provide the company with a big % of profit, but it will have multiple, far reaching positive affects into the future of the province, even after the mine is gone.

The fisheries equivalent to this situation is the shipping out of our unprocessed and partially processed fish to China and EU countries, such as that which our province is now facing with the OCI. Naturally a company that ships out some raw fish, gets a high % of profit, creates some jobs and adds some value to the province. But shipping out the bulk of our resource in this manner destroys many more jobs then it creates, creates little, or zero, value added affect for our coastal communities and province.

On the other hand a company that processes ashore and then sells to higher end market’s in places like the USA and UK would create 100's of processing and value added jobs, and add over all wealth to our communities and our province. This over all increased value, provided to our people, would further input and strengthen our infrastructure, support and lift our coastal towns and spirit.

Dr. Phil Earle

What happened to Good Public Policy? Ask Tom Rideout!

The following is a statement made by Tom Rideout when in government and Trevor Taylor was the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. 

Do they still believe it is Good Public Policy?

MR. RIDEOUT: Mr. Speaker, again, I cannot control the flights of fantasy that the Leader of the Opposition might engage in, but the fact of the matter is, he knows, everybody in Newfoundland knows, the people in Harbour Breton know, the people in Fortune know, the people in Marystown know, the people in other communities around know, that those quotas are assigned to a company. They are not assigned to a community.

Now, should there be community quotas? Maybe, but the fact of the matter is, the reality of the matter is, right now the quotas that used to be assigned to National Sea, we were able to purchase and have them repatriated to Arnold’s Cove. I think that is good public policy. When we speculate on doing that, in terms of the FPI operation, the Leader of the Opposition comes down on us like a ton of bricks.

Mr. Speaker, you cannot have it both ways. You are either for that as a public policy option or you are not. So, yes, that is one option and there are many others that we are exploring.

Let's Revisit 2007 and FPI - Why do we ask Questions?

Sue's Blog posted the following in 2007 just after the deals were cut to slice and dice FPI.

For those of you who wonder why I and others ask questions about natural resource policy - read below.

Don't be so cocky about brushing off the questions regarding Muskrat Falls.

FIRST PUBLISHED August 24th 2007

What has Premier Williams managed to do that other Premiers could not?

...allow the destruction of FPI.

I am upset today as a Newfoundlander and Labradorian - are you?

While equity in non-renewable assets is the order of the day for Williams - valuable renewable assets and associated business get the thumbs down.

A Nova Scotian based company ends up with the lucrative North American marketing arm of FPI - yahoo!

How many Sullivan's does it take to consume FPI?

Give me a penney and I'll tell you.

This is pathetic and deserves as much negative attention as the Hebron MOU deserves positive. The fishery until Danny Williams became the Premier - was referred to as the backbone of our economy. Nowadays - I think the government MHA's are careful or told not to say that.

As most of us should have observed by now Dean and Danny have a fetish for oil and gas and that is where the focus has been. It is nice to have the diversity of natural resources we have - but with Williams it will be oil oil oil and soon gas gas gas. The Premier just does not have the same protective passion for renewable - generational resources like the fishery - hydro-power - and wind.

Today I will focus on the fishery. Regardless of how the Premier or his top-spinner Ross Reid might plan and roll out announcements during polling period or just before an election - they are just inadequate when it comes to that resource of the sea.

Danny is the man to fight Ottawa over equalization (oil revenues primarily) and fallow field legislation - but when it comes to the fishery - he is impotent. The grand fisheries conference a year or so ago - has produced nothing new.

Do you see Williams pulling an ABC because there is no early retirement package - or inadequate federal money dedicated to science - the failure of the ground-fish stocks to recover well past the originally predicted time-frame? You have not heard a peep from him on proposed changes to the federal fisheries Act or the NAFO shenanigans brought to light by former DFO official Applebaum. Oil is sexy to St. John's, the business and construction labour communities - whereas fish is just this nuisance that the rural crowd keep pestering him about.

There is no doubt about it - Williams just does not have the guts - knowledge - interest - or some combination of them to take on the feds over the fishery - and further - the display of bravado to big oil companies - is just not present with the fish merchants. For some reason the Barry's - Penney's - and Risley's of the world are just too tough.

Here's a portion of the News Release put out by Highliner Foods International on the purchase of a portion of FPI assets:

High Liner Foods Incorporated today announced it has signed an agreement with FPI Limited and its subsidiary, Fisheries Products International Limited, to purchase its
marketing and manufacturing business.

FPI's marketing and manufacturing business consists of its North American
value-added food service and retail frozen seafood businesses. In 2006, the
business had sales of $452.9 million and gross profit of $43.5 million.

"This acquisition will be an important milestone in pursuit of our vision to become the leading value-added frozen seafood company in North America..."

So if they become the leading - where are we?

Just to put that in perspective:

Highliner

The company began in 1899 with the founding of W.C Smith & Company, a salt fish operation located in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia -- the current home of our head office and one of the most modern and diversified food processing plants in the world.

FPI

Fishery Products International is an industry leader in harvesting, processing, global sourcing, and marketing a wide selection of high quality seafood products. From its corporate headquarters in St. John’s, FPI manages primary and value-added seafood processing plants and a fleet of modern harvesting vessels.

From the few words which I have highlighted - can you see the problem already?

Please remember when the legislated restrictions are finally gone - the guarantees have a very short time-frame. The rural communities affected by this deal today - no longer have the protection of socio/economic policy attached to the harvesting of the resources adjacent to them.

First problem:

The Provincial Government has achieved a five-year agreement for the sustained operation of existing FPI facilities.

What happens then???

Second problem:

...we have made it a condition of sale that FPI and OCI proceed expeditiously with the transfer of the Fortune facility to Cooke Aquaculture. Is Cooke still interested? I thought not. (That's if you buy into Aquaculture being a panacea to replace the wild fishery) More on that in the next post.

So what happens now?

Third problem:

Sold to Highliner -

FPI's marketing and manufacturing business consists of its North American
value-added food service and retail frozen seafood businesses. In 2006, the
business had sales of $452.9 million and gross profit of $43.5 million. I wonder who benefits from that now?

What's the provincial portion of tax lost etc...What does Nova Scotia gain - and what does Newfoundland and Labrador lose?

NO EQUITY IN OR FOR THE FISHERY!

That's the real problem - so tilt your glasses and toast the man of the hour Danny Williams who has done what no other Premier could do before him - allow the destruction of FPI.

I will conclude by saying: In my opinion it's much tougher to make your million on a crab boat or prosecuting ground-fish than it is to make it off - let's say a bunch of poles and wires capable of bringing sports - news - and whatever else into your house!

80,000 people lost from coastal NL Letter to Minister King

Please find below a response to Minister Darin King from Dr. Phil Earl regarding the OCI situation.

Dear Minister King, Jan 10/12

As you can see, and not surprising, the quick response from OCI to our government’s announcement of refusing their request to ship out more unprocessed fish is one that can be likened to blackmail.

Their reaction is typical of the philosophy of the ASP corporations which are all about their own concerns of bottom lines and profits. If these corporations are permitted to continue dominating our provinces fishing industry and have inordinate influence with governments the future of the fishery and any hope of saving costal NL is doomed. The first, and main, duty and philosophy of our government should be to protect the jobs and peoples of our coastal fishing communities and not companies whose success appears to be also the success of the ‘industry’. How can their ‘industry’ success be success if at the same time it destroys the fisher people, their communities and the resource itself? The government must step in now to protect the resource for the future of our people.

Everything under the sun has been done and given to corporations for the holiness of saving and protecting their success and propagation. To the point where what was zero unprocessed fish shipped out a few years ago by FPI, is today 75% of shell and 80% of ground fish being shipped out. This fact alone is enough to explain all that has befallen our coastal plants and their workers in the past four years.

Stopping the exemption, as you have done, is the first step, reversing all the rest of the ‘unprocessed exemptions’ must be started, it is the only way that will give any air to the chance of restoring our Industry. This action may appear to be what would break the companies, if some can’t handle it then they would fold but that would only create the chance for others, smaller operations with different approaches, to be successful. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Regardless of my rambled, incomplete, remarks one over all description of the whole situation can be truthfully summarized. What OCI pertains to in the Industry is that group of corporations which cry out in every possible manner and way, at any cost to anything else or anyone else in their way, to continue their selective, personal or collective existence. On the other side of the balance scale in this situation is the survival of the fish stocks and the dependent fishers and their communities. That’s a fact.

We have been watching the tipping of these scales for 20 years, where stocks have disappeared, not recovered, 80,000 people lost from coastal NL and 40,000 fisheries jobs gone to hell, and a great part of this is due to what governments have allowed corporations to do on their end if the scales.

If you are really serious about wanting to protect the welfare of our fishers, our coastal peoples and saving our fishing heritage and culture you, our government, must act now and show the leadership that can save it. You are the government, you are the people. You cannot be directed by the chosen, corporate powerful, wealthy few, you must take your direction from the people. The people who are Newfoundland and Labrador. God be with you to do the right thing.

Respectfully

Philip Earle

ICU - OCI - Will the media go after the Goods?

After listening to the public commentary of Martin Sullivan CEO of Ocean Choice - one could only be left with a feeling of sympathy for the owners.

The absolute hardship OCI is feeling is hard to fathom. The Hook Line and Sinker sob story that Martin portrayed was really tough to take without tears.

What is wrong with the people of our province - can't we see that the Sullivan's are like everybody else in the fishery? Can't we see the hardship this is causing them personally? They need a job too and they might be too old to be retrained. What about the value of their houses - in communities where the fishery is all but gone? Can't we see that they are under the same pressure as the plant workers in Marystown or the fishers with no fish?

Then there was this bit about them living up to their commitments to government - per their legal agreement for the FPI assets. Martin moaned and groaned about losses since 2007. Yes they must have had a clue that was going to happen when they bid on the assets and made commitments relative to plant operations. They also knew that they could ditch some of these obligations after a period of time or if they could prove financial hardship relative to them.

The investment decision was made based on all of that and they knew that some losses would be acceptable if the value of the overall netted them a profit.

Their interest in Newfoundland and Labrador does come after the interests in their corporation and they should not attempt to portray anything other than this. 

More importantly than all of this is the following question which I trust will be asked by our local journalists:


Martin Sullivan stated that some information was asked for verbally and was delivered verbally - this outside information which was asked for in writing and delivered in writing. What was the information asked for verbally and what information was delivered verbally? 

A fishery, who’s history has been cess pooled by private corporate usurping

Below please find a response to John Furlong's article on the Fishery:

Who are We?

“And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,
Then how should I begin
To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?”
‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’, by T. S. Eliot.

It would be totally understandable, though not acceptable, if an ordinary citizen of our province had written the
Jan 1,2012 CBC news (cbc.ca) post ‘Assigning blame for lost jobs helps no one’, by John Furlong, host of NL’s CBC radio show ‘the fisheries broadcast’. Many people don’t, nor should they have to, understand the complexity of our fisheries problems. A fishery, who’s history has been cess pooled by private corporate usurping, and powering, of fish licences and quotas attained through the persuasion and coercion of the fisheries mismanaged federal and provincial governments.

Since our confederation a fishery, our treasured heritage, that the federal government has bartered and pandered away for favorable reciprocal international trading practices with the foreign fishing nations of NAFO and the EU. The final blow of the federal government’s policy of disinheriting us from our fishery will be played out in the coming months of the Canadian/EU free trade agreement.

The effect of this, as any elementary school child knows, has been the loss of 40,000 fisheries jobs, borderline rural poverty, gutted coastal communities and the dissemination of our maritime culture. Perhaps many young people, today, in the province don’t understand that it was the fisheries 500 year life line that gave our forefathers substiance, that built our family structures that gave us our unique character and godliness and made the province what it is today.

Losing our fishery will sever the connection we have always had to the sea, and to all these eternal things which we have uniquely been and to which we cling to today. Losing our fishery will destroy our ability, as individuals, to achieve, to connect to what our forefathers mastered and knew so well, the right they passed on to us. Losing our connection to the sea will destroy our birth right of dignity, in finding peace and pleasure, security and contentment within ourselves in our own homeland, from learning and exercising the mastered skills of seafarers. Who, or what, will we be then?

The conventional idea that a solution will solve a problem is an illusion, the thought or notion that ‘coming up with’ or ‘guessing at’ answers to problems will solve them. This hit or miss affair which does not encompass the breadth and depth of ‘what’s wrong’ and thus has nothing to do with the real structure of a problem and what will correct it. Only full understanding of a problem, which includes understanding it’s root cause, the nature and record of its history, if applicable to what may be still happening today, can bring proper insight and action that is needed to fix it. Simply put, if you learn and know fully, the problem, what it has been and what it is now. It will tell you what the solutions are. Fact!

These are just a few simple facts of what the fishery has been and what it ‘is’ now, today. They are not biased or based on my impression, opinion, wants, feelings, emotions or ego. It has nothing to do with me or any one person’s opinion, nor does it have anything to do with going back to the ways of the past, fishing in the ‘old ways’. It has to do with one thing only, the truth. There are many who don’t want the truth exposed or who would like those like me proven wrong and shown to be fools. Well that’s simple to do, it only requires taking on the truth of the matter as it has been requested. Why has it not been done?

After reading Furlongs article and in light of my comments I give the following response.

It is not acceptable that the host of NL’s premier fisheries radio show be permitted to belittle and denigrate the fisher people, the fishery and the coastal communities of this province. His opinion and manner in attacking attempts to expose fisheries truth and the people whose lives depend on it is wrong. But its consequences, of him being in the position of holding up the peoples trust on the Fisheries Broadcast, are in total disrespect of the crisis facing our province. For some time the FB present host has subtly been pushing and defending the federal and corporate agenda. He should be replaced.

What is this all about? Do you know?

It is about this planet’s god given treasure to us Newfoundlander’s and Labradorian’s, the Grand Banks of NL and the surrounding greatest fishery in the world. And what is that for? Yours and my children, and their children’s children. Fact!

“We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.”

Philip Earle

Apathy is the Solution for Fishery Woes? John Furlong's Answer?

When I first read "Assigning blame for lost jobs helps no one" I gasped, shook my head, and then settled into a period of remorse - as yet another Newfoundlander and Labradorian had been overcome by a rogue wave hitting the beach off the Fisheries Broadcast.

John Furlong's article does nothing more than justify apathy, dissuade questions and accountability, and marginalize any person who is fighting for the survival of the fishery (that is in any other way than resettlement and downsizing).

I took from his piece that one who owns assets has the answers and those who work within the sector do not. The Corporate merchants - they are the ones we need to look to for the way forward.

This story followed another by Furlong titled, "Change in the N.L. Fishery: Get used to it" and are both pro-apathy pieces from the Fisheries Broadcast host.

Fortunately for John - his corporation saw fit to have an entire program on this resource and not replace it with one called The Supermarket Broadcast - in recognition of that renewable natural resource. But he will get to retirement on it - unless perhaps the Sullivan's file a complaint with Stephen Harper and get the show cancelled before Furlong's on-air farewell.

To compare the loss of fishplants and that industry in dozens of rural communities to the loss of a supermarket in the middle of St. John's is absurd and irresponsible. Further if the oil economy is right - there may be a replacement in the area sooner rather than later - as the buoyant population of the city - and the free-flowing wealth will be catered to.

Then Furlong goes on to talk about the racket regarding the loss of the train. We all got over that right? What a joke. The highway cannot tolerate the traffic of heavy vehicles, we do not have a divided highway across the province, we have lost the ability to have fed input (cash) as we gave that up to for a piece of a road being widened without any ongoing funds for maintenance. As for the narrow gauge argument - that was propaganda as well - as many still exist or have made some changes to standard gauge and remain a very efficient, reliable, method of transporting goods and in many cases people.

The townies did not "need" it therefore it can go. There were political buddies that made money on the changeover to highway transport. Just to make sure it never came back - a quick destruction of the assets was employed and now we get to fight over snowmobiles, atv's or hikers.

Looking for answers is a real problem for Furlong and he is asking that you stop too. As one of the richest pieces of geography on the planet we had better keep looking for answers or future generations will have nothing left. In Furlong's world there would not be a need for a new host for the Broadcast in the future - who would listen? The Penney's Barry's and Sullivan's of the world do not need the CBC and may in fact hate tax-dollars being used for it. What they need is increased profits, greater access to the raw resource, and little to no interference by the owners of the resources, the people - through their elected bodies (both provincial and federal).

As the owners of what was one of the best renewable fisheries in the world, significant hydro-electric resources, forestry resources and fresh water coupled with non-renewable wealth such as minerals, oil, and gas - we have not done very well have we?

This quote from Furlong is particularly disturbing:

"We live on what used to be the world's richest fishing grounds. Year after year we turned out a fishery that was uneconomical, not very competitive and pretty well uninspiring. There's plenty of blame to go around to explain that."

Okay John, what happened to the resource? When was it uneconomical? Was it more beneficial for the merchant, the fisherman, or the plant-worker? When was it "not very competitive" - and how was it uninspiring? There's plenty of blame you claim - okay John - who is to blame? What is the role of the federal government? Who will make up for the billions in lost revenue to this province? If you do not want to consider workers, communities, or entire populations as relevant - how about the cash?

Your outward feelings on people like Dr. Phil Earle or Gus Etchegary are also quite revealing. What do you think their agendas are? Who are they trying to harm? Why are they so dismayed at what is happening? Is their information incorrect? Are they nuisances for continuing to ask questions? Do you believe they do not want a positive outcome? Are you annoyed because they want answers? Do you find them foolish for wanting a reason for the collapse - in order to find the best way forward for all our people not just the merchants?

The moratorium was supposed to be over by now - the stocks were supposed to be recovered - what happened to that? What does John Crosbie think went wrong with that? If there has been a harm and a party was constitutionally or legally responsible for the management - then there is blame and there is compensation. We have not been compensated John. You do understand John that a supermarket in St. John's is not a renewable resource nor is it or was it the responsibility of the federal government to manage. You do understand John - the government believes that the retail market in the St. John's area is so hot - that we have jobs now that can't be filled - so likely there will be immediate and like opportunities to those displaced by that closure in Churchill Square. You do know that many of those working in the retail sector are doing it while attending university or college or may be supplementing retirement income. You also know that most in the fishery are in it as a lifelong occupation.

I wonder if the employee in a St. John's supermarket somehow cannot find work in this "hot" retail market suddenly found that they could not pay their mortgage due to revenue loss - would they suffer a devaluation of that asset? This in comparison to somebody losing a job in a rural community - that also happened to lose the entire industry - rendering their asset essentially valueless. Do you John see any difference there other than the one difference you did quote?

You do realize John that a supermarket being lost is not going to cause too much economic upheaval over the next 20 years - whereas the loss of natural renewable resources will cripple us when the oil is gone. What is the difference between the two from a straight economic perspective?

If you believe that no further study is needed to determine cause - then tell us what was the cause? If that cause or causes include the federal government mismanaging the resource - then there has been an injury and where there is injury there is remedy through compensation.That compensation would do a number of things; including but not limited to - allow the proper compensation for lost wages, career, and asset devaluation - no different than what would be awarded in other litigation's such as victims of accidents. The compensation would allow the province to complete more not less scientific research of the fishery. The compensation would allow the survival of communities until the resource recovers or until other industrial opportunities are found. It would also allow those affected start-up funds for other ventures such as the development of land in St. John's purchased at $4000 an acre. Perhaps the fishers should be awarded provincial parks, or rivers for small-hydro development. Perhaps the entire quota should be delivered to the communities, fishers and plant-workers to sell in Asia.

Why are any resources in the hands of an OCI as a corporate entity when owners of the resource are shut out?

What Furlong has concluded is the who,what,where, when and why is discouraged while "get used to it" apathy is encouraged. Do not be fooled by this approach people - the continued destruction of this industry and resource will harm your children and their children much more than the closure of a supermarket in Churchill Square and will impact our ability to deliver health care, education, and build essential infrastructure a decade out.

If you can at all believe that the oil resources will eventually be exhausted - it is not a stretch for you to consider what next.

In every other resource sector, hydro-electric, mining, forestry, and oil we have been a population that has not processed enough finished product - and as a result we did not enjoy maximum industrial benefits. If other countries and provinces can create wealth - without their own resources - but simply by processing ours - we have to ask ourselves - what are we doing?

If we do not ask why - or who is to blame - we will NOT find a solution that works for people - we will simply capitulate to a few wealthy shareholders who will take whatever we will give them - the less they have to commit the better.

OCI knew what they were doing when they got the buy from FPI and from the time they got their hands on it - was the time they started to plan to reduce commitments and maximize profits. This is fine for a supermarket chain - it is not fine for a natural - renewable - resource owned by the people.

There is no doubt the answer is giveaway - now we MUST ask why we continue to allow it.

John Furlong has his own opinion and we are allowed to have ours. We are permitted to ask questions and demand answers despite John's feeling that this is a waste of time.

We don't have to "get used to" anything - in fact we are fully within our rights to tell those we elect and employ that we will not get used to it and if you can't do what we need and want - we can hire somebody else.

The slow death of communities and the fishery sector has been in part very orchestrated and very planned. Bit by bit - while urban populations are bored and growing with a temporary oil bonanza - one by one rural communities are being decimated. The townies do not want to hear the "whining" of fishermen - in a sense telling their great-great grandparents to shut-up.

Part of the placation of the fishermen and plant workers was a new boom in the shellfish sector. What John will become of that? We are only mismanaging that because we are suffering from the mismanagement of groundfish.

Watching each other bleed until enough of us are gone - is not the answer. Stepping up to the plate - showing some real guts and fighting for what is right - includes the asking of questions.

Two interesting story ideas for John:

1. Is your job being impacted by the disaster?

2. Why do more rural Newfoundlanders and Labradorians carpool than commuters in the city?

Thank you to social media - for I fear that if mainstream media still had control - we would know nothing of our impending death. That is unless is was crime in the courts or carnage on the highway.

If we believe that the only wisdom is that which comes from our elected government or journalists - apathy has won. There is nothing in the world more damaging than good people encouraged to do nothing and actually listening to that advice.

One thing has become completely predictable - the mantra of "stop asking questions". What's up with that?