Fish tales

RJ

- January 2, 2013 at 19:32:24

Nationalism and pride...downfall of many countries.We had nothing to do with where we were born.Being closed minded about sending resourses outside to be processed is why many stay sitting at home instead of going where the work is.Unless u have some illness or are retired...sitting on one's arse is not being a decent human.So what if work is in a different country or province.Forget borders ..all able bodied work aged woman and men in our province or any land who say I will only work in my town or I can't leave my birthland....well you may as well have stayed on the mommy's nipple!! ;)

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Carl

- January 1, 2013 at 11:41:32

Carl - shipping unprocessed fish out of the province is like shipping manufacturing jobs out of the USA. Good luck with that.

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New energy at work

- December 31, 2012 at 12:33:08

I guess dunderdale said it all in her last speech, we are finally part of confederation. We are giving it all away and short changing our very own people and our culture, its gone. This is no more than a patronage perk, a few votes for darrin king from his old flock. Now her sibilings can come home and help pay for the 10 billion dollar giveaway that she was a pawn in. Bussiness as usual from dunderdale sh.# show which supports the steve harper utopia. Don't OCI know we have cheaper electricial power to now?

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a business man

- December 31, 2012 at 10:08:08

There is nothing wrong with allowing the fish merchants to ship out unprocessed fish. Canadian corporations have the right to export raw resources from other countries, so we have to give other countries the same rights. The majority of Canadians benefit from global trade with cheaper goods and enhanced business opportunities. Sure, the fishery workers will lose jobs, but they are so few in number that no one really cares. It is perfectly fine to wipe out a small industry of a few thousand people if millions of people across the country see a benefit. That is democracy; that is using the fish to benefit the greatest number of people. We need to get away from the premise that the fish has to benefit the fishery workers, and move using the fish to serve the majority. Those of us who have nothing to do with the fishery ALSO own the fish and are entitled to some benefit.

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  Alfred

  - January 2, 2013 at 14:00:36

  I would like to know how the rest of Canada will see benefit from this deal which allows for the export of unprocessed fish. The revenue from the fish sent overseas will not be going into the general coffers of the gov't. It will go into the bank accounts of OCI's board members, most likley overseas. Not many dollars there for roads or healthcare. The money made by local fishermen and plant workers stays in the local economy which helps communities survive. Wait 5 years and tell us then how good this deal is for the average person in canada, that is the duration of this agreement. After that OCI can shut down the Fortune Plant and ship 100% over seas.

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  a business man

  - January 3, 2013 at 14:17:17

  Well Alfred, the majority of Canadians and Newfoundlanders will see a benefit from the export of unprocessed fish because what ever money the government gets via royalties and taxes will be end up in the general coffers. For those of us who have nothing to do with the fishery, this is far more preferable than sustaining the fishery dependent communities. Secondly, exporting unprocessed fish will prevent - YES prevent - many fishery workers from getting the hours they need to qualify for their annual dose of EI. For the majority of Canadians and Newfoundlanders, this means that EI will be abused on a lesser basis. As of January 1, 2013, the rest of us pay more for EI. Perhaps the hike in premiums would not be necessary (or would be less) if not for the annual abuse of the EI program. The way I see it, any change that prevents people from regularly/annually taking more from EI than they put in reduces the pressure of the system and therefore reduces the need for an across the board increase of EI premiums. I am so sick of paying for EI that I have never used while other people take more from the system than they put in on an annual basis. As such, it is my position that exporting the fish unprocessed will prevent annual users of EI from qualifying for EI benefits and thus prevent the annual abuse of the hard earned money that I pay in EI premiums. I hope that makes sense to you. IF it doesn't, oh well, it makes sense to me and the rest of us who happily support the export of unprocessed fish and wish for more and more fish to be exported unprocessed.

Devon

- December 31, 2012 at 09:23:17

You hit the nail on the head Mr. Boyd. However, the FFAW supposedly represents both fisherment and plant workers. The FFAW are also guilty of keeping fishermen in chains too! If fishermen were allowed to sell fish out of the province it would mean less work for plant workers which would mean less money for the FFAW. The only way fishermen will get a fair deal is if they form union in which the only members are fishermen!!!!!!

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