The Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today said that he is shocked by comments from the Leader of the Opposition regarding the fisheries renewal strategy announced yesterday.

"The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has reiterated its commitment to contributing our share toward an early retirement program on numerous occasions," said Minister Rideout. "We recognize that it is a key item and we have been prepared to be a funding partner for some time now. Our government is disappointed that the federal government continues to stand by its position that such a program is currently not under consideration. If they change this position, at any point in the future, we will be there to negotiate an acceptable program."

"Any concerns that an early retirement program was not part of the renewal plan should be addressed by the federal government," continued Minister Rideout. "Perhaps the Opposition should support our efforts to bring the federal government onside, rather than engage in political rhetoric."

The minister added that based on cost-shared arrangements of similar programs in the past, the provincial share of an early retirement program could be as high as $30 million.

He also noted that the Premier, during two marketing meetings with industry representatives last spring, himself introduced the concept of purchasing the marketing arm of FPI.

"The Premier offered that government would finance the purchase of FPI�s marketing division," said Minister Rideout. "As part of that arrangement, the industry could have run the marketing arm and pay government back over the long-term. The immediate reaction was negative, but the Premier gave the industry participants a couple of weeks to evaluate the offer. During the second meeting, while it was supported by the FFAW, it was quickly rejected by the processing sector. Therefore, the plan did not proceed."

"If the Leader of the Opposition had shown enough interest in the fishery during the months following the Premier�s summit, he would have been aware that this avenue had been pursued by government," said the minister.

Minister Rideout says that this government has taken the initiative to find solutions to the challenges facing the industry, something that previous governments did not do.

"The Leader of the Opposition was fisheries minister for two years, and could have implemented his vision of fishery renewal during that time but failed to act," said Minister Rideout. "Our government has introduced measures that we feel put the industry on a path toward sustained future viability. These measures will obviously take time to work but we stand by the efforts that we have put forth to ensure that the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery remains an integral part of our provincial economy."

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Media contact:
Danny Pond
Communications Specialist
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-6076, 685-3415
dannypond@gov.nl.ca 

2007 04 13 3:45 p.m.