Fishing licenses will have value – Keddy

“I really question where the NDP are coming from. It’s one thing to play politics and another thing when you know the answer. The license has value, it will always have value and fishers will still be able to buy and sell them.”

He was criticizing both the federal and provincial NDP parties for using, in his opinion, fishermen for “political gain” through “fear-mongering.”

He said he has read the proposed Act “half-a-dozen times” and has sought legal opinions on some aspects of it to ensure he understands it is a good Bill. He said he would prefer that Bill C-45 be written in plainer language instead of “legalese” but to keep the common property resource status of the fishery, as fishermen’s groups and all political parties wanted, the legal language was necessary.

However, he said the license component of the proposed Act is basically unchanged. This means transfers will continue to go through the Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as it has for the past 139 years. “The way it would be done is the way it is done now and it’s based on the common property principal of the fishery.”

He added fishermen should seek a legal opinion on the matter if they don’t believe him. He said the Act, which hasn’t been updated for the above-mentioned 139 years, would also deal with such modern issues as habitat protection and infraction enforcement, amongst other issues. “If someone has been routinely breaking the law for 20 years, the only option may be to take away the ability to fish. The majority of fishermen are law-abiding citizens who want to get out and go about their business.”

He said the opposition parties are playing politics because, if the Act gets through the second reading, changes can be made, and more consultations held at the committee stage. “If they have a substantive amendment that will improve the Act, they’ll have a good chance of getting it through on the committee. This is a minority government.”

He added the former Liberal government did much of the work, which the current Conservative government carried on.

Now, Keddy said the Liberals want to “kill” the Bill with a Hoist motion that would delay moving to the second reading by at least six months. “They (parties) want to take it on a nation-wide side show and be political about it.”

He added the NDP has also played politics with a Bill he had passed that allows fishermen to defer Capital gains from the sale or transfer of their assets. “The federal NDP say it’s not law yet. That’s a blatant lie.”

He also responded to other issues brought up at a Shelburne March 6 provincial NDP information session. “They think they see political gain here so that’s why they’re trying to make hay, or make fish, about it,” he said.

Keddy said owner-operator fishermen to small and large companies can work well in the fishery. “There’s room in the fishery for everyone. You can’t say only have small guys, medium sized guys or only large guys.”

In British Columbia, for example, which doesn’t have fleet separation, he said the owner-operator side of the industry is still thriving.

He said Newfoundland has enacted a law to ensure all harvests landed in the province are processed in the province.

He agreed fishermen should be able to access funding by using the value of their licenses, boats and gear. He said if Canadian banks won’t adequately deal with this issue, then maybe the financial system should be opened up for competition.

Many of these types of issues should be corrected using separate legislation, not the encompassing Fisheries Act, he said.

However, he said, after 139 years, it’s time to stop playing politics. He invited his constituents to contact him with any questions and concerns. “Remember, the opposition powers that are complaining the loudest have an opportunity to change it if they wish to. I’ve never been in something for the sake of politics and I don’t have much time for it.”