Ottawa, ON – Clifford Small, MP for Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame and Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and The Canadian Coast Guard; Rick Perkins, MP for South Shore-St. Margarets and Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Industry; John Williamson, MP for New Brunswick Southwest; Chris d’Entremont, MP for West Nova, and the Hon. Rob Moore, MP for Fundy Royal, released the following statement:
“After nine years of Justin Trudeau, the Liberal Government’s job-killing agenda is cutting through Atlantic Canada. Liberal failure to stop illegal lobster fishing is delivering hardship for our coastal communities along the Bay of Fundy.
“Illegal lobster poaching around the Bay of Fundy is rampant and Trudeau has left our waters wide open to illegal fishing by local and foreign vessels. This is having an impact on our fishing communities in Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, however the Trudeau government’s unwillingness to apply the law is killing jobs and endangering fish stocks in the region.
“Amanda Johnson, Executive Director of the Fundy North Fishermen’s Association, raised alarm over the safety of fishers confronted by poachers and the lack of enforcement, saying the region has been ‘completely abandoned’ by Trudeau.
“Colin Sproul, President of the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance, described ‘total lawlessness’ as poachers have been observed removing tens of thousands of pounds of lobster over the wharf in Saulnierville.
“The unwillingness of the Trudeau government to enforce the basic law is putting fish stocks at risk and endangering lives and livelihoods. Trudeau’s Fisheries Minister #6 is playing politics instead of looking out for our fishery and those who make a living at it, and if she won’t do her job, she should step aside for someone who will.
“Common Sense Conservatives will uphold the law and end Trudeau’s lawlessness in the fishing industry. We will safeguard this important natural resource for the Maritimes and properly consult with our fishers to bring home powerful paycheques for those that rely on it.”