Shea turns her back on NL; no ice compensation for fishermen


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4th, 2014
FEDERAL FISHERIES MINISTER RULES OUT ICE COMPENSATION

OTTAWA – New Democrat MP Ryan Cleary (St. John’s South-Mount Pearl) is outraged that the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has ruled out ice compensation for fishermen on Newfoundland’s northeast coast.

Cleary approached the Minister in the House of Commons today about quotes attributed to her in the local media stating she was open to ice compensation. “The Minister said she was misquoted,” says Cleary. “Gail Shea said she will look at an extension of the crab season so fishermen can catch their quota, but no more than that.”

Earle McCurdy, president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ Union has described ice conditions on the northeast coast as an emergency situation, with fishermen unable to get on the water and many having run out of Employment Insurance benefits in mid-April.

 “The Minister has turned her back on rural Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Cleary, “and this is just the latest example.”

 

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