Englee cries foul as 2 towns cheer processing transfers
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 | 8:54 AM NT
CBC News
(CBC) A small town on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula will have a hard time managing after the province refused to issue a new fish plant licence, the mayor says.
"I'm upset. I'm shocked," Englee Mayor Ed Fillier said.
The town has been lobbying for a processing licence in order to return employment to the town after almost four years of inactivity in the industry.
Acting Fisheries Minister Trevor Taylor announced Monday that two existing licences will be transferred to Conche and La Scie, but said the government agreed with an independent review panel that recommended against giving Englee — or any other town — a new licence.
Fillier told CBC News he does not accept that rationale.
"I couldn't believe that some political person, or non-political people, could make a decision to take this away from us," he said.
Under the terms of arrangements that Taylor announced Monday, a shrimp processing licence used by processing company Daley Brothers in St. Joseph's will be moved to La Scie. The St. Joseph's plant retains other licences and will stay in business.
Trevor Taylor on issuing new processing licences: 'I won't say it will never happen again, but I don't see it the foreseeable future.' (CBC) As well, the government moved an unused crab processing licence from Trouty to Conche. That licence was affiliated with the Barry Group.
Taylor had no apologies for a decision he acknowledged will leave some communities unhappy.
"Will there be a plant in Englee? No. That's not going to happen," Taylor said flatly.
He added that from now, the most important factor guiding decisions on processing licences will be the volume of what's swimming in the ocean.
"I think it's fair to say that the days of new plants being built anywhere in Newfoundland and Labrador — I won't say it will never happen again, but I don't see it the foreseeable future," Taylor said.
Englee has not had a working fish plant since 2004.
La Scie Mayor Clyde Saunders welcomed the decision for his community.
"It's going to mean more jobs, it's going to mean more employment for people already working, it's going to boost the local economy big time," Saunders said in an interview.
"For local businesses, the spinoff from this is going to be great."
