The MLA for Inverness says the federal fisheries minister is doing nothing while local fishers suffer and those in her own riding reap the benefits.
Allan MacMaster says Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, told him there were no health and safety concerns with fishers heading back out on the water.
MacMaster tells The Hawk he can only wonder what Bernadette Jordan, the fisheries minister, is thinking.
“I mean it doesn’t look good for her- if it’s not based on safety, what’s it based upon? Unless we have an answer from her, we’re left to speculate,” he says. “Her own area is now reaping the benefit of our fishermen staying home- there’s fewer lobster being brought ashore, which is helping the price for her own fishermen down on the south shore.”
MacMaster says there’s no good reason why lobster fishers should stay home.
He says they’re losing thousands of dollars waiting for the season, scheduled to open April 30 but delayed to May 15 due to COVID-19 concerns, to get underway.
MacMaster says Mike Kelloway, the MP for Cape Breton-Canso and Jordan’s Liberal colleague, recommends the season open.
“She’s at odds with our local Member of Parliament- I don’t know what that means,” he says. “I guess it says either that she’s not listening, or that she doesn’t care.”
MacMaster says he doesn’t understand why Jordan isn’t listening to fishers or her government’s own representative.
A spokesperson in the minister’s office declined our request for an interview Friday.
