The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today responded to unfair criticisms by the Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) of a Provincial Government program that provides a very high level of support to the fishing industry. The recently announced Community Enhancement Employment Program (CEEP) was developed by the Provincial Government at the request of the FFAW, using data that was provided by the union. It continues a high level of investment in the province�s fishing industry by the Williams Government. This program will cost the province up to $6 million, which is more than 50 per cent of the total budget for such programs that address all industries.

"The criticism on the part of the FFAW is unfair given the level of investment on the part of our government," said Minister Hedderson. "This is a very generous program that responds to the issues that were brought to our government by the FFAW."

This is the first time that the province has provided a CEEP program for harvesters and it is the best program the province has ever provided for plant workers. There is also an opportunity for harvesters who have already qualified for Employment Insurance (EI) to avail of the program. This is an unprecedented level of support to the industry.

The Provincial Government has modified the program to ensure that harvesters are able to participate on the same basis as other workers. They will be able to work and earn the same level of income as other workers under this program. They will be paid the same rate as all workers who are availing of such programs.

Harvesters ordinarily qualify for EI based on fish sales rather than hours of work. They typically qualify for higher levels of EI than many other rural workers. However, it is critical that the Provincial Government provide a CEEP program that treats all workers equally.

This program is not meant to necessarily maintain the levels of income that harvesters would ordinarily receive. It is meant to ensure that workers have an opportunity to qualify for EI and ensure that they will have an income throughout the year. It is in no way intended to ensure that workers qualify for the highest level of EI possible. It has never been Provincial Government policy to ensure this for any workers. It is also important to note that the shrimp fishing season has not yet come to an end for 2009.

"There is still an opportunity to harvest and process shrimp in the 2009 season if the FFAW policies do not preclude or prevent it," said Minister Hedderson. "I encouraged the FFAW to provide access to remaining shrimp quotas for their members who still wish to harvest. They refused this request by our government and they refused the request on the part of the processing sector. This inaction and lack of foresight and leadership by the FFAW will mean a greater need for our program."

The FFAW has criticized the province for a slow response time with this program. However, the Provincial Government responded to harvesters in a much more timely manner than the Federal Government, which has taken a number of months. It should also be noted that there was a two-week delay while the FFAW considered whether or not access to remaining shrimp quotas would be allowed to those who wish to harvest it.

"Given that the FFAW came to our government without a proposal to address their issues, we moved very quickly on these very complex matters in developing a new Provincial Government program within a matter of a couple of months," said Minister Hedderson. "As well, some lobster harvesters can also avail of the Federal Government program which will further enhance their income levels."

The Williams Government has demonstrated a high level of commitment to the province�s fishing industry through substantially increased investment and development programs that address the long-term structural issues in the industry. The budget for the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has been tripled since 2003. The $33.7 million budget for the department in this province is larger than the total budget for fisheries and aquaculture in the Maritime Provinces combined.

There is a long-term strategy in place through the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy which involves a financial commitment of up to $140 million on the part of the Provincial Government. Earlier this year, the Provincial Government committed up to $800,000 for the Agreement on Fishing Industry Restructuring which was instrumental in getting the shrimp fishery started in 2009. This is in addition to the $3.4 million in licence fee rebates that were provided to get the fishery started this past summer. The full benefit of this funding went to the province�s harvesting sector.

The Provincial Government has also provided over $1 million in project funding to the industry in recent years. This is far in excess of the investment in the fishing industry by governments in other provincial jurisdictions in Canada.

"Our government does acknowledge that this is a difficult year in the fishery," said Minister Hedderson. "However, it is also time for the FFAW to acknowledge the tremendous contribution to this industry that is being made by the Provincial Government."

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Media contact:

Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca