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News
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Foote terms premier's stance on resource development as
double standard May 10, 2006
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Judy Foote, MHA for the District of Grand Bank and Opposition Critic for
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, calls the premier’s stance on
resource development in the province a double standard, with the fishery
resource and its development being shortchanged by the premier. In a news release earlier this week on the Lower Churchill, the premier stated that the project would be produced in keeping with the government’s agenda of developing resources for the maximum benefit of the people of the province. "This statement only reinforces what we have been saying all along," says Foote. "The premier has a certain gleam in his eyes when it comes to big projects, whereas the fishery is clearly viewed as being a thorn in his side. So little attention has been given to the fishery by this premier and as a result, rural communities are disappearing as outmigration has become the daily norm. "The fishery is in a crisis, the magnitude of which has not seen since the cod moratorium in the early 90s. In fact, there are those engaged in the fishery who say the devastation that is happening today in our province pertaining to the fishery will have more serious repercussions than the cod moratorium. Whether the premier is turning a blind eye to this fact or whether he is at a complete loss to deal with this critical issue is still not clear. I suspect it is the latter, coupled with the fact that he is investing so much time and energy into big energy projects, the fishery appears to be the last thing on his mind despite his claim to the contrary. It is all too obvious that the fisheries minister, who is also the deputy premier, is not on top of the fishery crisis in the province. He refuses to take the bold action that is needed to right this industry and put stability and growth back into it. "The entire fishing industry in this province is suffering while the government waits for it to sort itself out. Instead of doing everything it can so the industry can continue to exist for the maximum benefit of hundreds of people and their communities, it is being pushed to the side by a government that is rurally challenged. Clearly, this government does not like the smell of fish, or they would be waist deep in doing its part to help revitalize an industry that has been, and can continue to be, the mainstay of the economy of this province. " |
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