Fishery Crisis Should Have Never Gotten This Far: Wakeham
For Immediate Release
(March 20, 2024, St. John’s, N.L.) – PC Party Leader Tony Wakeham (MHA, Stephenville – Port au Port) is outraged that Premier Andrew Furey has allowed the fishery crisis to emerge to a breaking point for a second year despite all the warning signs threatening our fishing communities' future.
"After twelve months of so-called dialogue with harvesters, the Furey Liberals have turned their backs on harvesters, plant workers, and rural Newfoundland and Labrador," said Wakeham. "At a time when rural communities across the province should be preparing for another fishing season, hundreds of harvesters, plant workers, and supporters of the fishery have gathered at Confederation Building in St. John's demanding answers from their government."
Last week, Wakeham demanded Furey step up from the sidelines to resolve the crisis threatening the fishery and all who rely on it. Instead, the Furey Liberals quickly closed the legislature after being embarrassed by questions from Wakeham about their negligence in fisheries management.
"If I were Premier, it would have never gotten this far under my watch. It is saddening to see the events unfold due to Premier Andrew Furey's poor leadership," noted Wakeham. Today, I am urging him to get all sides back to the table and not to leave until a resolution that benefits all sides has been reached."
"The fishery is the most important industry in our province, and it's outrageous to see the Premier ignore the crisis while another fishing season hangs in the balance. A true leader of Newfoundland and Labrador would roll up his sleeves and do whatever needs to be done to ensure harvesters can go fishing, processers can process, and plant workers and crew can get on with earning a living."
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