Bay de Verde, one month later: 'Dismayed' by lack of province's help

As Bay de Verde marked one month this Wednesday since a devastating fire ripped through its fish plant and burned it to the ground, the town's mayor says people are moving forward, no thanks to the provincial government.

"I did meet with the premier and two ministers. And you know, my attempt was to put the human face on this particular situation. However the province has not come along with anything," Gerard Murphy told CBC Radio's On The Go, adding the resulting silence left him "dismayed."

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"I was requesting either an income supplement or a wage subsidy for the workers," Murphy said. 

"This is going to be a difficult and challenging season for them."

Back to work

The Quinlan Brothers plant, one of the largest in the province, employed more than 700 people during its peak season, including 40 workers from Thailand.

"Most of the workers, from what I understand, have been accommodated, to the credit of Quinlan Brothers," said Murphy, adding many are commuting to Brigus and Winterton to process the company's crab there.

"They are continuing with a quiet resignation and a strong resolve," he said, despite the lack of help from the province.

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The Thai workers have found employment elsewhere in Atlantic Canada.

As for rebuilding efforts, nothing is yet underway at the site of the former fish plant, now clean of the fire debris.

"Today, it is basically a flat slab of concrete," said Murphy.

From what he understands, Quinlan Brothers is still in planning stages for a new plant.