As the start of crab season looms, only silence from Government: Pardy
For Immediate Release
(April 5, 2024 Bonavista, NL) – PC Opposition Critic for Fisheries & MHA for Bonavista, Craig Pardy, today expressed sadness at the continued absence of the Premier in the crab dispute.
Pardy noted the season is supposed to start tomorrow but is embroiled in another price dispute which is the culmination of weeks of protests by harvesters. The Premier has refused to personally get involved up to this point and has sent a staff to represent him at past meetings.
“Where is Andrew Furey? A billion dollar industry and thousands of jobs hang in the balance while the Premier is missing in action. There is also a growing sense of urgency from plant workers who may not qualify for employment insurance if delays continue. If this was a good news photo op Andrew Furey would be front and center. Now, we hear crickets from the Liberals. This is total and utter disrespect to the hard working men and women in rural Newfoundland and Labrador who are waiting to go to work tomorrow.”
The Liberals have done nothing to address issues in the crab fishery despite a shutdown last year and sitting on a report for months that contained recommendations.
“The standoff last year caused significant damage to the provinces reputation in the fishery and the Premier refused to get involved. In 2023, Andrew Furey waited seven weeks before calling the parties together to get the season going. What an absolute failure of Leadership!
This is a crisis facing our biggest fishery and the Premier needs to step up! Because one thing is for certain, as long as no one is talking, there will never be a deal.”
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Contacts:
Ashley Jackson-Politi
Media Relations Manager
(W) (709) 685-3161
(C) (709) 325-5200