Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan and Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller addressed tensions surrounding an ongoing dispute in the lobster fishery in Nova Scotia. (CPAC)
Four Liberal MPs held a joint news conference to address the lobster fishery dispute in Southwestern Nova Scotia on Monday morning.
It began with strong condemnation against recent acts of violence from Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller, labelling them ‘disgraceful’ and ‘alarming’.
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett, and Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair all took part.
The Ministers addressed several aspects of the dispute, including violence, policing, the Mi’kmaq Treaty Right to fish, and commercial stakeholders’ role.
Jordan was firm in the government’s commitment to support Mi’kmaq fishers and their right to a moderate livelihood.
“I know that once we remove the criminals, the vandals, and the trolls, there are honest, hard-working fishers who are concerned,” she began. “That’s who I want to speak to for a moment. Many of you have had a very challenging season this year and you want to know that the stocks you depend upon for your livelihood will be protected. So I say now very clearly: conservation underpins everything we do.”
Jordan says DFO will never move forward with a plan that will threaten lobster stocks.
She noted that defining a moderate livelihood is not up to the federal government, but rather a task for First Nations to work with the feds to define.
When asked if the Mi’kmaq have a right to fish outside the commercial season, the Minister dodged the question.
“These are all conversations that we’re having during the negotiation process,” she explained. “Everything is on the table with regards to how we implement this right. This is a Supreme Court that affirmed that decision 21 years ago, that the Mi’kmaq have this right. We are working very diligently with them to make sure that they are able to implement it. They have provided us with fishing plans that we are currently going through with them, we are making good progress, we are having positive conversations.”
Jordan noted that the lack of a ‘moderate livelihood’ definition is no excuse for the threats, intimidation, and acts of violence that have beset Southwest Nova over the past month.
Members of Parliament met on Monday evening for an emergency parliamentary debate surrounding the fishery following requests by the ministers and the federal NDP.
Meantime, RCMP remain tight-lipped surrounding an investigation into a devastating fire at a lobster facility in Middle West Pubnico.
The facility went up in flames around midnight on Friday night.
One person was taken to hospital with what were described as life-threatening injuries related to the fire.
A spokesperson previously noted that he is a person of interest but say they cannot give any updates on his condition, the status of the investigation, or any potential arrests.
When asked if RCMP are looking into the possibility of additional suspects, Sgt. Andrew Joyce re-iterated that he cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.
That’s in contrast to comments made by Public Safety Minister Bill Blair during the news conference.
Blair noted that the investigation is progressing.
“The arson that took place at Atlantic Fisheries on the night of October 16th, this investigation is on-going,” he began. “A person of interest, in this case, went through surgery and will have a lengthy stay in hospital due to the level of injuries. The investigators are continuing their investigation to identify any possible second or other suspects in this matter.”
Blair says a request by Sipekne’katik First Nation Chief Mike Sack to call in the military won’t be going ahead, explaining that this isn’t a military operation and enforcement and keeping the peace it is the responsibility of the RCMP.
