Fisheries and Aquaculture
November 9, 2007
Provincial Government Working to Address Closure of
Trouty Fish Plant
The Provincial Government is in the process of reviewing the closure
of the Trouty Fish Plant to address the workforce adjustment needs of
displaced workers and the region. In 2006, the province implemented an
Integrated Transition Strategy for Displaced Plant Workers to respond to
situations in which fish plants are permanently closed.
"I have already met with the MHAs for the region," said the
Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "My
deliberations with Minister Ross Wiseman and MHA Roger Fitzgerald were
very helpful. As soon as possible I plan to meet with the ministerial
committee on fisheries issues and address the need for the Provincial
Government to designate the displaced workers as being eligible for
government services under the integrated strategy."
Under this strategy, workers displaced by the closure of a fish plant
and their communities qualify for the following services:
Transition support services to provide a one-stop entry point to
help displaced workers develop an individualized transition plan;
Short-term job creation measures;
A wage subsidy to support transition to other jobs;
Regional economic diversification.
"Government officials are already in the process of gathering data
and completing analysis on the situation in Trouty. Every effort is
being made to address the situation and a decision on activating the
integrated transition strategy will be forthcoming in the near future,"
said Minister Rideout.
Under the short-term job creation measures, eligible individuals are
entitled to a maximum of up to one 14-week rotation under the program at
a wage rate of $8.75 per hour.
"I look forward to meeting with the other members of the ministerial
committee on fisheries and I�ve directed my officials to arrange a
meeting as soon as possible," said Minister Rideout. "We understand that
a fish plant closure can be devastating for a community and a region.
That is why our government implemented the integrated strategy and we
look forward to working with the community to take this integrated
approach to economic recovery."
The Integrated Transition Strategy for Displaced Plant Workers has
already been deployed in Fortune, Marystown and Port aux Basques. To
date, approximately $4.2 million has been paid out in program
expenditures and work is ongoing.
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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
2007 11 09 11:25 a.m.
