Fisherman's Road

I posed the following questions today (Dec. 12) in the House of Commons during Question Period. Mr. Speaker, The federal Cons needed Newfoundland and Labrador to give up local processing requirements to get a deal with Europe. After 2 days an agreement was struck – the province has the documents to prove it. The deal was not compensation for losses. But a research and marketing fund to create a fishery for the future. That was publicly announced 14 months ago. Now, low and behold, this Conservative government says, Newfoundland and Labrador, you got it all wrong. The obvious question, Mr. Speaker, is why didn’t this government say anything back then, before now? QUESTION 2 Mr. Speaker, The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador has come to Ottawa today to call on the Prime Minister to honour the commitment he made to my province. It’s well known that this Conservative Prime Minister, he is no friend to Newfoundland and Labrador. But he made a comm...

I posed the following question today Thursday, Dec. 11th in the House of Commons. If that's a promise let's see the details in writing. Mr. Speaker, I'll remind Conservatives they also promised to compensate Newfoundland and Labrador for giving up rules that protect our fish processing jobs. What happened to that promise? Tomorrow the Premier is coming to Ottawa to meet with the Prime Minister to find out what happened. Will the Prime Minister agree to honour the terms of the commitment that he made. Or will this be a replay of the foot-dragging, promise-breaking disrespect and contempt Conservatives showed to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with the Atlantic Accord?

The following article was published in 1963 in the long-defunct publication, St. John’s Woman (15 cents a copy). Those interviewed include my great-grandfather (Bill Duggan), great-grandmother (Mary Anne Chafe Duggan), grandmother (Margaret Ryan), great aunt (Betty Duggan) and great uncle (Derm Duggan). HEADLINE: The Duggan Story on K. of C. Hostel Fire of 1942, Exclusive to Woman . Cassie Brown, writer/publisher. December 12, 1942 Radio listeners in and around the city of blacked out St. John’s, tuned to Radio Station VOCM listening to Uncle Tim Duggan’s Barn Dance, heard the startled should of “Fire!” For another brief moment they heard shouts and yells and then their radios went completely dead. They had been listening to the program for the past fifteen minutes emanating from the K. of C. Hostel on Harvey Road where the troupe was entertaining hundreds of service personnel. Bare moments later flames were towering skyward, and every home in the city ...

Dec. 12th is an eventful day in Newfoundland and Labrador history. Friday marks the day in 1942 when 99 people died in the Knights of Columbus fire on Harvey Road in St. John’s. There’s a theory that the fire was likely an incidence of enemy sabotage orchestrated by agents of Nazi Germany. The local musical troupe, Uncle Tim’s Barn Dance, was on stage that night. Uncle Tim was actually the stage name of my great-grandfather, Bill Duggan, whose two sons were on stage with him (Derm and Gus Duggan). Gus, a member of the Newfoundland militia, died in the fire. Years later, my mother was playing near the site of the former K of C hostel (where Tim Hortons stands today) when she found a set of dog tags, owned by her uncle Gus. A vigil is planned for 11 p.m. Friday night at the K of C monument on Harvey Road. ••• Friday is also the 29th anniversary of the Arrow Air crash in Gander. Canada’s worst aviation disaster killed 256 military personnel and their crew. The ...

I posed the following question in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Dec. 9th, during Question Period. Mr. Speaker, The premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is coming to Ottawa because Conservatives are backing away from a promise they made to our province. Conservatives committed to $280 million in compensation after they bargained away our minimum processing requirements in CETA negotiations. They've since been trying to break that promise. So what's the deal now? Mr. Speaker, The fishery fund was announced more than two years ago, with money to be spent on research and marketing. Is the $280 million on the table for Newfoundland and Labrador — yes or no ANSWER, Con MP Rob Moore: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government remains committed to working out the details of the Minimum Processing Requirements (MPR) fund with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. This MPR fund was to compensate for anticipated losses from the removal of the MPRs. It was never...

I gave the following one-minute statement in the House of Commons on Monday, Dec. 8 th . Mr. Speaker, Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe had a short stopover in Gander, Newfoundland this past weekend. Between the jigs and the reels, the laughs and digs with the likes of the two Allans — Hawco and Doyle — Russell Crowe let it be known to the Twitterverse what he thinks of my province. Quote, “I love Newfoundland.” I thought about that quote over the weekend, Mr. Speaker, and I have a question: why doesn’t this Conservative government love Newfoundland and Labrador? You don’t see love in federal fisheries policy. In fact, when it comes to northern shrimp, the Cons are punishing our communities. And where’s the compensation for the EU trade deal? Where’s that love, Mr. Speaker? Where’s the love when it comes to search and rescue or Marine Atlantic? And the Liberals, Mr. Speaker, they show up on our doorstep every now and then when they want so...

DFO officials appeared before the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in Ottawa today (Dec. 2nd) to answer questions re the departments supplementary estimates. MP Cleary had a 5-minute round of questions and answers. Marc Gregoire, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, answered Cleary's first two questions, followed by Matthew King, DFO's deputy Minister. Minister Gail Shea did not attend.