Immediate review of WCB rates needed for inshore fishermen

The issue is of vital importance to Shelburne and surrounding communities, and these resident, fishermen and their families deserve to hear from the Minister in regard to his plan to protect the inshore fleet from higher than necessary costs.

This review would be a good move and is badly needed for Nova Scotia fishermen. Look at Prince Edward Island, inshore fishermen have been given it’s own rate. In PEI they are paying 36% less per $100 payroll than our inshore fishermen in Nova Scotia. Currently in Nova Scotia, the Workers’ Compensation Tate Book charges $7.19 per $100 payroll. This is a lot of money and is blocking many captains from hiring that extra deck hand.

These rates are too high and I know it is not based on the safety record of the inshore fleet. The problem is that the inshore fleet is lumped in with the offshore fleet that are going out for days or weeks at a time. The solution is simple; the Minister must work to separate the inshore from the offshore fleet for WCB coverage.

Nova Scotia coastal communities are striving to prosper and one of the keys to this success or failure will be the fishery and the people employed in the fishery.

One way we could increase employment in the fishery would be to get more people in inshore fishing boats. Therefore, the Conservative government has to take action to help inshore fishermen deal with this outstanding issue.