Tag Archives: Prime Minister Mark Carney
‘Slap in the face’: Lennox Island reacts to second seizure of moderate livelihood fishery traps
Following a second seizure of lobster traps tied to Lennox Island First Nation’s moderate livelihood fishery, the P.E.I. Mi’kmaq community continues to consider its legal options. On June 8, DFO seized 58 traps related to the community’s self-regulated fishery. That was in addition to about 300 traps seized on May 18. In a statement to the Journal Pioneer, Lennox Island Chief Darlene Bernard (who has since retired as chief as of the community’s June 14 election), said her nation is using the same number of traps as it did last year and has been voluntarily following DFO harvesting regulation since the moderate livelihood fishery started in 2022. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:24
‘Making decisions closer to the wharf’ can ensure the sustainability of Canada’s fisheries and oceans
During the federal election campaign, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that if elected, he would look into restructuring Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Carney stated that he understood the importance of DFO and of “making decisions closer to the wharf.” Carney’s statement was made in response to protesting fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador who decried recent DFO decision-making for multiple fisheries, including Northern cod and snow crab. Although addressing industry concerns is important, any change to DFO decision-making must serve the broader public interest, which includes commitments to reconciliation and conserving biodiversity. Major reforms could fundamentally reshape fisheries science and management in Canada, yet most Canadians are unaware of how DFO’s science-management process works, or why change might be needed. Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:05
G7 summit: Who is attending and what’s on the agenda?
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US – will meet on Sunday in the remote town of Kananaskis, Alberta, nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, for three days of intense discussions. This will be the 51st G7 summit meeting. The first took place in 1975 in Rambouillet, France. Back then, it was known as the G6 meeting, as Canada did not become a member until the following year. Russia joined the forum in 1998, making it the G8, but was effectively expelled in 2014, following its annexation of Crimea. Since then, the forum has been known as the G7. Tensions at this year’s gathering, taking place June 15-17, are likely to be high for many reasons. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:53
Some fishing groups say relationship with DFO is heading in positive direction
The heads of two Nova Scotia fishing groups say there are signs that the often-contentious relationship between the industry and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is now heading in a promising direction. In Nova Scotia, a perceived lack of enforcement over unlicensed fishing in the baby eel fishery has been one of the sources of that contention, as well as illegal lobster fishing in the southwestern part of the province. Colin Sproul, president of the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance, said he believes there’s a “course correction” happening with the federal department. Dan Fleck, executive director of the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association, did not attend any of these meetings. He said there appears to be more willingness from the federal government to listen and learn. “It’s nice to be listened to, it’s nice to be heard,” he said. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:41
DFO credibility crisis presents opportunity for Carney
Canada’s coastal fisheries are, in many respects, a mess. It’s a pressing challenge and critical opportunity for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government. Let’s set the scene. The vital and profitable East Coast fisheries are plagued by conflict over First Nations treaty rights and conservation overreach. In the West, the commercial fishery’s collapse and fisheries management disputes have weakened coastal communities. Ottawa’s 2024 decision to ban the region’s marine net salmon farming exacerbated problems. On both coasts, industry hostility towards the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is at near-fever pitch. In the recent election, Carney encountered protests by fishers outside a Newfoundland campaign rally. Despite that, fisheries garnered little national media coverage during the campaign. Coastal issues do not resonate in major cities. But the industry could well provide an early and consequential test of the new Liberal government. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:30
Houston pitches ambitious ‘Wind West’ offshore wind energy project
In response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s bid to make Canada an “energy superpower,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is floating the idea of dramatically ramping up the province’s nascent offshore wind energy industry. In an online video released earlier this week, Houston said he’s hoping Carney’s Liberal government will support a new megaproject the premier has dubbed “Wind West.” “Right now, Nova Scotia is on the edge of a clean energy breakthrough,” the Progressive Conservative premier says on the slickly produced video. “We’ve been handed a golden ticket …. We cannot afford to let this moment pass us by.” Meanwhile, Houston’s government has yet to release any details about how much his proposed project would cost. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:54
Removing Chinese tariffs on Canadian agriculture products a priority, says Carney
The federal government plans to work urgently to remove Chinese tariffs on Canadian agriculture and seafood products, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday. “The Canadian government is engaging with its Chinese counterparts at the ministerial level, and we’ll continue those discussions,” Carney told reporters after meeting with premiers in Saskatoon. “They’re a top priority for us.” The commitment came in a statement after the meeting, and it says premiers want Canada’s trading relationship with China to improve. Beijing imposed retaliatory tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal, peas and seafood after Ottawa slapped levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:55
Carney government offers DFO no new direction on First Nations fishery enforcement
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has not received new direction from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government on how to respond to unlicensed fishing. At the Maritime Region Lobster Advisory Committee meeting in Bedford on Wednesday, DFO’s area director of conservation and protection, Noel d’Entremont, told fishery representatives that nothing new has come from Ottawa. Commercial fishery representatives walked out of the last committee meeting last fall after DFO refused to put the illegal fishery on the agenda. Wednesday was DFO’s attempt to rehost the meeting, which brings together science, enforcement, commercial and First Nations fishery representatives from across the Maritimes. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:30
Nova Scotia Indigenous leader calls on Ottawa to move ahead with review of arrests
An Indigenous leader is calling on Ottawa to begin an external review into why fisheries officers allegedly fisheries officersin March 2024 and left them at a Nova Scotia gas station without shoes or phones. Chief Gerald Toney of the Annapolis Valley First Nation told a news conference in Ottawa today there has been no movement on the file since then-fisheries minister Diane Lebouthillier called for the review on July 8. Toney says the way the two men were treated was “inhumane,” and he urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to take action within his first 100 days in office. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:26
N.L. seafood producer hopeful for new markets at world’s largest trade event in Spain
The world’s largest seafood expo is drawing to a close in Barcelona, and one Newfoundland and Labrador seafood producer is optimistic he’ll walk away with new customers. Labrador Gem Seafoods president Danny Dumaresque is working the floor at the Global Seafood Marketplace. He says the expo has gotten off to a strong start. Dumaresque says the expo has five venues filled with companies from across Europe, Asia and the U.S. “Canada has a prominent presence here,” he said. “It’s a major event for the Canadian delegation.” The Newfoundland and Labrador government also has a booth there. Dumaresque says he had his eye on this event since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. The expanding global trade war kicked off soon after. While Canadian seafood was not tariffed, uncertainty was felt throughout the sector for months. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:33
Canada Elections: Prime Minister Carney’s Liberal Party to lead fourth consecutive government
Canada’s Liberal Party is projected to win the country’s federal election for the fourth consecutive time. The Liberals, led by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who took over after Justin Trudeau resigned earlier this year, won the majority in a shocking turnaround sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of annexation and his tariffs on America’s close ally and northern neighbor. As of late Monday, the Liberal Party was leading with 161 seats won in Parliament as opposed to the 150 seats held by the Conservative Party. A party needs to win 172 of Parliament’s 343 seats to hold the majority. Carney won his Ottawa riding on Monday. He is the first prime minister to represent a capital riding since Canada’s first prime minister, John A. Macdonald. Former Liberal deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland, whose resignation last December led to Trudeau announcing his plans to resign in January, won re-election in her Toronto riding. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:16
Carney calls NL ‘a model for the country’ during campaign stop in Gander, promises changes to fishery
Mark Carney’s brief tour through Newfoundland and Labrador resumed on Tuesday, March 24, in Gander. Standing in the famed International Lounge at the Gander International Airport, the Canadian Prime Minister warned the United States against any transgressions, tariff or otherwise, and touted the work his party has done over the last nine days, just as he had in St. John’s a day earlier. “It’s entirely right that the harvesters were there yesterday,” he said. “The Minister of Fisheries met with some of the representatives last evening. I understand their frustrations, given the situation in the water. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<07:20
Fish harvesters protest in St. John’s ahead of Carney’s 1st campaign rally
Newfoundland and Labrador’s fish harvesters quickly rallied on Sunday afternoon following cuts to the snow crab fishery and what they call the Liberals’ mismanagement of the fisheries. About 100 people crowd gathered peacefully outside federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson’s campaign office in St. John’s with the hope of receiving an explanation for major cuts to harvesting snow crab in the 3K area. The division is losing almost a quarter of last year’s total allowable catch at 7,643 tonnes, down from 9,998 tonnes in 2024. Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:30
