News Release
Office of the Official Opposition

Meeting on Port aux Basques fish plant productive

Kelvin Parsons, MHA for the District of Burgeo-Lapoile, and Port aux Basques Mayor Brian Button are calling today’s meetings with government on the future of the Barry Group fish plant in Port aux Basques very productive.

The Barry Group recently announced the closure of its Port aux Basques fish plant resulting in over 100 jobs being lost. Today’s meeting with government involved MHA Parsons, Fisheries Minister Tom Rideout, the Mayor and representatives from the Town of Port aux Basques, representatives of the UFCW, and officials with the Departments of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Industry, Trade and Rural Development, and Human Resources, Labour and Employment.

"I was very pleased with Minister Rideout’s quick response to our meeting request," said Mr. Parsons. "It is obvious that the minister understands the urgency of dealing with the situation facing the people of Port aux Basques and he has committed to make available all tools and efforts that have been used in other communities such as Harbour Breton and Fortune. The Town of Port aux Basques will now take the lead on the establishment of a committee to find solutions, but other representatives from government and the union will also be part of this working group. I am hopeful that options will be presented to these workers that will provide them with new opportunities."

Port aux Basques Mayor Brian Button was also very pleased with the meeting and believes government will try to address the situation facing displaced workers. "Minister Rideout certainly understood the unfortunate situation facing many families in the Port aux Basques area and I feel he will work with our representatives as we try to find new options for the plant and its workers. We now need to focus on providing short-term and the long-term solutions for these people that will mitigate the impact of the plant closure. With the various government agencies that will be part of our committee, I am certain that we can develop strategies that will help assist everyone involved."

The group also met with federal representative David Wells, senior policy advisor to regional Minister Loyola Hearn. Mr. Wells committed that the federal government would do whatever possible through agencies such as Service Canada and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to help the displaced workers.

Media Contact:
Darrell Mercer
Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
709-729-6151 or 709-687-0477