March 15, 2000
(Environment and Labour)

I rise today to announce the formation of a working group to address shellfish asthma in Newfoundland and Labrador fish processing plants. While reports and incidents of shellfish asthma have been around for some time, it is clear that with the tremendous growth in shellfish processing in our province over the past couple of years, the incidents have been increasing.

The working group that I am announcing today will be chaired by the assistant deputy minister of occupational health and safety for my department and will also include representatives from the Fish Food and Allied Workers, the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Department of Health and Community Services and the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission.

The working group will be meeting in the very near future to develop an action plan to address shellfish asthma in processing plants around the province. The primary objective of this working group, will be to consult with the industry and the workers to ensure that all measures that can be taken, will be taken, to minimize the adverse effects of shellfish asthma on plant workers in this province, while still permitting our plants to operate and provide valuable employment in areas throughout the province.

Over the past several months, my department has been working with other departments, agencies and stakeholders to address the serious issue of shellfish asthma. I would like at this time, to express my appreciation to the leaders of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers and the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador for their cooperation and support of this initiative. I am confident that with their involvement, we will be able to address to the fullest extent possible, the serious concern of shellfish asthma in processing plants.

2000 03 15                                             2:50 p.m.