Did Minister Byrne support the closure of the fishery?

Premier Roger Grimes is calling upon Gerry Byrne, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), to provide the people of Newfoundland and Labrador with a full accounting of his involvement in Thursday�s decision to close the Gulf cod fishery. Thursday�s decision by Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, was not a cabinet decision, rather it was a decision of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Therefore, Minister Byrne is not bound by Cabinet rules to support the decision.

Yesterday�s statement by Heritage Minister Sheila Copps is a clear indication that Federal Ministers are able to challenge and criticize the actions of other Federal Ministers. Minister Byrne was also free to join with the people of his province to challenge and criticize this decision. Heritage Minister Sheila Copps publicly criticized Health Minister Anne McLellan yesterday over her handling of the SARS file saying: "I certainly think the Minister of Health has some answering to do for the way she has been absent from the file."

Mr. Byrne must provide to the people of the province a full accounting of his efforts that led to the decision announced on Thursday, April 24, 2003. The people of the province must know if Minister Byrne took steps to either strongly and vehemently oppose the decision, or if there were discussions and concurrence between Minister Thibault and Minister Byrne to close the Fishery.

"It is not acceptable for Minister Byrne to hide behind the fact that this is a decision of Robert Thibault and that we must now move on," said the Premier. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador assures the people of the province that we will not give up fighting on their behalf. We do not accept that this decision is final and that our people must move on as stated by Minister Byrne.

Media contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Communications, (709)729-0329.

2003 04 29                                         7:10 p.m.