Fisherman's Road

I posed the following question today, Feb. 28th, in the House of Commons: Mr. Speaker, it has been more than two months since Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan informed the WTO that they would no longer import seal pelts, a ban they back-dated to August. The loss of Canada's biggest market for seal products is a huge problem for Newfoundland and Labrador communities, and the government has done nothing to show its supposed support for a humane and sustainable seal harvest. Mr. Speaker, two questions: Why has the government failed to end the Russian ban of Canadian seal products? Second question - why has it failed the communities that rely on the sealing industry? Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade: Mr. Speaker, unlike the NDP, our government remains committed to defending Canada's sealing industry. The customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia has proposed trade sanctions on seal products. On my instructions, Canadian officials are actively engaging with their inter...

A public meeting was held at the Battery Hotel in St. John’s Sunday, Feb. 26 th , to discuss the future of the Old-Age Security pension. St. John’s East MP Jack Harris and I joined Irene Mathyssen, federal NDP critic for seniors, who’s touring the country in response to speculation that the Conservative government may raise eligibility to age 67 from 65. The following are quotes from the event: “I doubt every word that comes out of Stephen Harper’s mouth.” — A senior. “Canada is on the way to losing its soul.” — A senior. “The person who is telling us this (pension changes are necessary) is either a liar or extremely stupid … we all know Stephen Harper isn’t stupid.” — A senior. “After 25 years as an acute care nurse my body and soul were broken.” A 70-year old nurse against the idea of raising the retirement age. “Our government is arrogant against its own people.” — A senior. “Civil society is under attack by this government … it’s intended to atomize us … drive us apart ...

The suburbs to the shores, how do we fix what's broken? On Wednesday, Feb 22 st , I held a public meeting at the Battery Hotel in St. John’s. The following is my opening statement. Welcome to Making Waves: A discussion about the future of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fishery. Welcome to the Battery and the Riverhead Room. I chose the Riverhead Room for tonight`s public meeting because of sentimental value — I grew up in Riverhead, Hr. Grace. And the name of my street in Riverhead was Fisherman`s Road, of all places. Fisherman`s Road, the road sign, is also the central image on my blog , for those who were wondering why I went with Fisherman`s Road. I have never forgotten where I come from. None of us should ever forget where we come from. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are a people of the sea. This place was settled because of fish, and its fish that will likely keep us here long after the oil and gas are but a memory. But the fishery is broken — even the federal min...

The Narrows group — representing both sides of the entrance to St. John's harbour, as well as key stakeholders — appeared before the City of St. John's' planning committee on Tuesday, Feb. 21st, to ask that the city undertake a planning area development scheme specific for the iconic area. As chair of the group, I gave the following presentation: Thank you to the planning committee and the members of St. John`s City Council for seeing us. I`m the chair of a newly formed steering committee of a stakeholders` group called, The Narrows: A Vision for the gateway to St. John`s. Our goal is clear — to protect, enhance, and preserve The Narrows, the iconic entrance to St. John`s harbour. We want to support the area`s living history. To date, efforts have focussed on the two sides of The Narrows as separate entities, but the rich fishing heritage of the Battery, and the proud military history of Fort Amherst, are intertwined. The stakeholders’ group brings both sides of T...

Why wasn't one of the Canadian military's Gander-based search-and-rescue Cormorant helicopters tasked to search for Burton Winters? The 14-year-old from Mokkovik, Labrador was reported missing Jan. 29th, and found dead three days later — 19 kilometres from where his snowmobile was found stuck in the frozen sea. I posed three questions recently to Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s office. The questions and unedited responses are found below. 1) Were there three Gander-based Cormorants available to respond to the search for Burton Winters? In accordance with normal procedure, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police initiated a Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) effort on Sunday 29 January, 2012 after it was reported that Burton Winters failed to return home. 10 Rangers from 5 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group assisted in the GSAR. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Halifax was first contacted by Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador (FES-NL) on Monday 30 January, 2012 a...

I was forwarded the following letter today (Feb. 16th), part of a 'campaign' for imporved search and rescue services in northern Labrador. I am writing this letter to express my disgust at my government’s failure to respond to an emergency request, which resulted in the death of my grandson, Burton Winters. How is it possible in this day and age, the 21st century where technology and services are at their best, that calls for help to emergency services fails and a 14 -year old child dies as a result? Where is the accountability in these failures: failure to respond when the initial call for help was made and then failures evidenced in the multiple excuses that have been subsequently provided? The Department of National Defense’s response (or lack there-of) is criminal to say the least. Where is the accountability? How come nobody has been reprimanded in this situation? How come nobody (Mr. Gardem, Mr. MacKay, Mr. Harper) has owned up to the huge mistakes that they have made. Y...

I gave the following 1-minute statement today (Feb. 14 th ) in the House of Commons: Mr. Speaker, My statement begins with a question: “And whose wish never fails to find my vacant heart on Valentine’s?” That question was written by the great Newfoundland songwriter, Ron Hynes, in his song Atlantic Blue . The song is a tribute to the 84 men who went down with the Ocean Ranger. It’s their wishes that never fail to find vacant hearts on Valentine’s. In the early morning hours of Feb. 15 th — 30 years ago tonight — the indestructible Ocean Ranger went down off the coast of Newfoundland in a vicious storm. The sinking of the Ocean Ranger resonates to this day among the family and friends of those who were lost, among people who were strangers to them. Marine tragedies are a reality of life for people who live and die by the sea. But the Ocean Ranger is a reminder of the danger of lax regulation, of the danger of assuming the unthinkable could never happen, and a reminder of the importa...