Fisheries Plan Not Perfect, Offers Hope

The new federal fisheries restructuring and adjustment plan is not perfect, but it does offer hope to fishermen displaced by the collapse of the groundfishery, Premier Russell MacLellan said today.

"If every dollar finds its mark; if we get every dollar to someone who needs it, this program can make a real, lasting difference for those Nova Scotian families and in those Nova Scotian communities (affected by the groundfish collapse)," the premier said.

The new program contains all five elements that Nova Scotia had argued must be part of a new aid package to replace TAGS, the Atlantic Groundfish Strategy. Those measures are an early retirement package for older workers; a licence retirement or buy-back program; economic development aid for communities; income support and employment assistance.

Premier MacLellan said Nova Scotia worked hard to get an acceptable package out of Ottawa.

"We impressed upon Ottawa the needs of those Nova Scotians who are economic victims of the collapse of groundfish stocks. Two weeks ago, the package proposed by the federal government was unacceptable to Nova Scotia, so we redoubled our efforts and got Nova Scotians a better deal."

The package proposed two weeks ago would have provided some $70 million in aid to Nova Scotians, excluding licence buy-back. The package announced today will provide total assistance, over three years, in the order of $153 million.

Some 5,200 Nova Scotians are dependent on TAGS for part or all of their income. They represent just less than 20 per cent of TAGS recipients on Canada's east coast. The total adjustment package for eastern Canada is $730 million, of which roughly 20 per cent will come to Nova Scotia.

"The downturn in the fishery is a real human tragedy for thousands of Nova Scotian families. It took away their means of livelihood. This package, indeed no government program can give that back. The best government can do is offer the people affected hope and a real chance for a better future," the premier said in the legislature.

The cash payment in the package is a single payment, which will be made to some 4,600 eligible Nova Scotian workers in September. They will receive between $7,000 and $14,000 each.

The Nova Scotia government wanted a longer term commitment to income support, the premier said.

"The federal government wants to end payments with a lump sum, and that is what they have done. We don't necessarily agree with the approach, but we have to live with it, as do thousands of eastern Canadian fishermen and their families."

Under other terms of plan, more than $50 million will be available to buy back licences from fishermen. An early retirement plan for fishermen aged 55 to 65 will be available to about 250 Nova Scotians. The federal government has allocated about $12 million for this purpose.

The plan also includes a $29 million adjustment program to help workers train for new opportunities, and $20 million for economic initiatives in communities hit hard by the groundfishery collapse.

Provinces have been asked to participate in the early retirement and economic development measures, by contributing 30 per cent of the funding.

Premier MacLellan said that will require some further study, but if it can be accomplished within the province's financial framework, the province would participate.