Government hasn't moved quickly enough on protesters' demands to rejig industry, says harvester and critic
Furey says discussions will continue with FFAW but he won’t negotiate with “splinter groups”
Wednesday's closure of Newfoundland and Labrador's legislature is being hailed as a victory by one prominent fisheries advocate.
The provincial budget was expected to be delivered but it was postponed as hundreds of fish harvesters blocked access to the building and were met with a heavy police presence.
Harvester Jason Sullivan told CBC News on Wednesday said it was good to see so much support for the harvesters' demand for an open market for their fish.
"It was a pretty strong sign of support here today," he said Wednesday afternoon. "I mean a lot of people, it's amazing how many people get it."
Harvesters have been lobbying the government since March to open markets to out-of-province buyers, lift processing caps at some plants and allow more plants to be built.
On Tuesday, Fisheries Minister Elvis Loveless announced he was willing to meet some of their demands, including looking into increasing processing capacity at plants. Loveless said his department would also issue an expression of interest for outside buyers for the 2024 snow crab fishery.
Sullivan — a Bay Bulls fisherman who tried to run for president of the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union and was part of a group that attempted to unseat the FFAW for government negotiations — said there are just a handful of buyers in the province that can take N.L. harvesters' catch. Less competition has resulted in what he called "lacklustre prices" for harvesters, he said, adding big business interests hold too much sway over government decision-making.
"It certainly seems like the Liberals listen to the big companies rather than the common man, I can tell you that," he said.
Government open to further talks: fisheries minister
Around noon the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador granted an injunction to the provincial government.
The order, granted by Justice Robert Stack shortly after noon, prevents protesters from blocking the Confederation Building on foot or in a vehicle and from causing a nuisance by intimidating, threatening or assaulting public employees.
At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Fisheries Minister Elvis Loveless said the provincial government has been very open with fishermen.
"We've had very good discussions on a lot of items we've met, I'd say, all of their requests," said Loveless, pointing to the government agreeing to allowing out-of-province buyers and increasing plant capacity. But the provincial government wants to make these changes "responsibly" and ensure plant workers are also protected, he said.
Furey said discussions would continue with the union, and the provincial government will proceed with releasing the provincial budget when it's safe to do so.
"We are still willing and wanting to continue to work with the leadership of the FFAW to ensure that harvesters get their boats on the water on time, in an orderly fashion," said Furey.
But he said the government will negotiate with the union itself, which represents the harvesters, not "splinter groups."
Furey acknowledged what he said was a long history of distrust between processors and harvesters, but he said the government's recent actions should alleviate some of the harvesters' concerns.
"Ultimately, they want competition in the industry," said Furey, adding that it's what's best for harvesters and their families, as well as the province.
"There are deep, deep issues that run 500 years in the fishery that we're not going to be able to fix overnight. That's why we want the FFAW to come work with us on a review."
Eye to the future
Sullivan said protesting at Confederation Building was a strategic choice to get their demands met.
"This is where the people are working that are supposed to make the decisions that are affecting our livelihoods And you know, where else do you go, really?" he said.
"They're in there cowering away most days, and no one's holding them to account and that's why they're getting away with doing these dirty deals and protecting five or six extremely wealthy individuals over thousands and thousands of people that are just trying to make a living in rural Newfoundland."
He also wasn't sure how a court-ordered injunction would stop protesters from showing up.
"I don't know if the prison's got the capacity here for a thousand people but I doubt it. Not from what you hear about them down drinking toilet water," said Sullivan, referencing a CBC News report of a Congolese citizen detained at Her Majesty's Penitentiary who allegedly had to drink toilet water.
Furey said Wednesday no one wants to see mass arrests.
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With files from The Signal
