Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs
January 2, 2015
Advocating for the People of Newfoundland and Labrador
Provincial Government Asks Where MPs and Senators Stand on Fisheries Investment Fund
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is awaiting responses from Newfoundland and Labrador's MPs and Senators on their positions regarding the federal commitment to a fisheries investment fund.
The Provincial Government negotiated an agreement with Ottawa to create a $400-million fund that was to be directed at fishing industry renewal, including marketing, infrastructure and other initiatives. The agreement was intended to compensate for the elimination of a longstanding provincial public policy relating to mandatory processing of fish products. The elimination of the policy had been requested by the European Union as part of its negotiations with Canada to establish the CETA trade agreement. This was the most significant public policy concession of any province in the CETA negotiations. However, the Federal Government unilaterally changed the mutual agreement with the Provincial Government significantly eliminating the intended application of the fund. That change was confirmed by Premier Paul Davis when he met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in early December.
The Honourable Keith Hutchings, the province's Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, was the lead minister for Newfoundland ad Labrador in the negotiations to create the fishery fund.
"In principle, Newfoundland and Labrador is in favour of free trade and we can see the potential benefits in CETA. But CETA and the fisheries investment fund were a package deal. Now, the Federal Government is imposing new conditions that effectively make it impossible to access the fund. It's not what was agreed and it won't stand with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. We are calling on federal politicians, particularly the Conservative senators from Newfoundland and Labrador, business leaders, industry associations, and stakeholders to pressure the Federal Government to honour its commitment to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador."
- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Provincial Government communicated with all Members of Parliament, Senators, federal leaders and premiers in mid-December to seek support. The federal NDP has already responded that it is committed to honouring the original deal reached with the province.
"It is important that we be united. We need our politicians to be Newfoundland and Labrador's voice in Ottawa and not Ottawa's voice in Newfoundland and Labrador. There is a broader message here, too. All provinces and territories should be concerned when the Federal Government does not honour written commitments to a member of the federation. This experience poses risk to future participation in trade negotiations, not just for Newfoundland and Labrador. It is particularly troubling that we still have not heard from federal Trade Minister Ed Fast on this matter who was the Federal Government's key negotiator for CETA."
- Minister Hutchings
Over the coming weeks, the Provincial Government plans to take its message directly to representatives of the European Union as well as to Canadian industry and exporter groups.
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Media contact:
| Kevin Guest
Director of Communications Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs 709-729-1983, 730-2320 kevinjguest@gov.nl.ca |
2015 01 02 3:30 p.m.