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July 20, 1998
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)


Tourism Minister addresses protest at bird sanctuary

Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Sandra Kelly has expressed serious concerns regarding the actions of protesters in Branch who have blocked access to the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve. The protest is meant to help force the reopening of the secondary processing fish plant in that Cape Shore community.

Minister Kelly said she has spoken to the protest organizers in an effort to impress upon them the importance of the ecological reserve and the tourism jobs the site sustains, as well as to emphasize the negative impact on the local region of their actions.

"The protesters have threatened to continue to disrupt tourism traffic to the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve," noted the minister. "Government cannot allow this situation to continue. We have been patient and we have tried to deal reasonably with the protesters during previous demonstrations. However, if the current protest situation continues, government will be forced to take any and all reasonable measures to protect the tourism industry on the Cape Shore. This is not only for the tourists, or the reserve itself, but for the local community too."

The protesters are angry that an audit, ordered by the federal Department of Human Resources Development, into operations of the Cape Shore Seafoods Ltd. will delay any possible reopening of the plant by up to four months.

Minister Kelly said while she sympathizes with the frustration of the plant workers, the future of the Branch plant is in the hands of HRDC. "There is nothing I can do regarding the fish plant issue," Kelly emphasized. "An audit is required by HRDC and is proceeding accordingly. However, my department's immediate priority is to ensure access to the ecological reserve and the security and safety of the people who work and visit there."

The Cape St. Mary=s Ecological Reserve is one of the two most important natural heritage tourism sites in all of Newfoundland and Labrador. "This is a very important site for the province," said Minister Kelly. "Fifty-five per cent of the 20,000 visitors to the ecological reserve each year come from outside the province. Many of those visitors come to Newfoundland and Labrador primarily to visit this ecological reserve."

Minister Kelly said that given the tremendous draw of the Cape St. Mary's reserve, the single most accessible bird sanctuary in the world, the province must make every effort to ensure continued accessibility for all visitors.

"These protests cannot be allowed to continue," said Minister Kelly. "These tactics are hurting not only the province's reputation as a worldwide tourism destination, but the protesters are also damaging the livelihood and long term economic future of their neighbors."

Contact: Elizabeth Batstone, ADM, Natural and Cultural Heritage, Tourism, Culture, and Recreation, (709) 729-3609, or Donald Hustins,Director, Parks and Natural Areas, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-5231.

1998 07 20 5:55 p.m.


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