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Andersen lobbies federal government for EI extension for northern Labrador fishery workers May 25, 2007 Wally Andersen, Opposition Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Critic and MHA for the District of Torngat Mountains, recently met with Federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn and asked him to consider an Employment Insurance (EI) extension to address the unique situation facing many fish harvesters in northern Labrador. "Fishery workers throughout the province have run out of EI benefits, and this is no different on the north coast of Labrador," said Mr. Andersen. "Unfortunately, the situation for the people in my district is very unique and poses more problems than other regions. Most of our fish harvesters have a very small quota and ice conditions usually prevent them from fishing until late June. These people have been without an income for over a month and the ice is so thick that they are still travelling between communities on snowmobile. Similar ice conditions in the past have shown that they will be unable to fish for at least another month. "While many fish harvesters around the province are facing ice conditions this year, this is an annual occurrence in my district. Most fishery workers in northern Labrador are unable to work until the ice breaks in late June, yet still follow the same Atlantic EI guidelines as everyone else and run out of benefits in the last two weeks of April. This is a unique situation that affects a small number of people and I am hopeful the minister will recognize and address this circumstance for the long-term as well as the short-term. "There are approximately 50 people in my district who would benefit from this type of EI extension and the cost to the federal government would be relatively small. I am confident that Minister Hearn recognized the unique situation of fish harvesters on the north coast during our meeting and I am hopeful that the federal government will act to address this problem as soon as possible."
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