Lobster fisherman set to take a hosing

Ed Frenette PEI FA (CBC photo)

Looks like the government bail-out is an offer they can’t accept

Stephen Pate, NJN Network, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, May 26 2009 with story from CBC

PEI lobster fisherman are learning quickly the Federal and Provincial governments are long on talk and short on help. The latest self-funded buy-back scheme means fisherman may get out of the industry but future fisherman will pay the tab.

Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan floated the self-financing proposal without consulting the fisherman. Years of making car loans in Kensington at the Credit Union appear to have left Sheridan a little shy on popular ideas and a brick short on salesmanship.

Long used to free money from Ottawa in past buy-back schemes, this idea is not sitting well with the fisherman who remain in the industry. There is no guarantee their catches will increase to pay for the levy Ottawa will impose of future lobster sales.

Based on loans and contributions Ottawa is making to the auto manufacturers, the Federal government is basically telling fisherman “fix your own house.”

This may be the new mantra from Ottawa where support for Maritime fisherman means no new seats in the House of Commons but failure to rescue the Ontario auto industry will cost Harper his tenuous hold on power.

Fisheries group frustrated by news out of lobster talks

Last Updated: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 CBC News

The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is concerned about a proposed plan that would see it pay to buy out lobster fishermen, and wants a seat at government negotiations over the industry.

‘The good news for the fisheries association is that we’re out there working on their behalf.’— Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan

The fishing industry says reducing the number of people taking lobster out of the Northumberland Strait would be a good thing for the fishery. P.E.I. Treasurer Wes Sheridan met with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty earlier this week, and proposed a plan where the federal government would lend the fisherman’s association millions of dollars to buy some its members out of the industry.

Then fishermen who continue fishing lobster would pay back that loan over time.

PEIFA executive director Ed Frenette told CBC News on Tuesday that none of this was run by his group. Frenette said the industry would be willing to put in for part of a buyout plan.

“That’s part of a set of negotiations that we hope we’ll enter into. However, when we see, hear these sorts of proposals bandied about without any input from us, it really is frustrating,” Frenette said.

Sheridan said a number of ideas were discussed with federal officials on Monday, but no details have been worked out.

“The good news for the fisheries association is that we’re out there working on their behalf,” he said.

“We’ll not do anything without consultation. I think they’re in full knowledge of that. They should be very pleased we went to the federal fiscal table with this.”

Frenette said the group is trying to find out exactly what options provincial and federal government officials are talking about.

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