Christopher Mitchelmore Question Period (05.24.2012)
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for The Straits - White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE:Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Sandy Cove plant owned by 3 T’s Limited was closed in 2009 –
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for The Straits - White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Mr. Speaker, the Sandy Cove plant owned by 3 T’s Limited was closed in 2009 for failing to meet basic federal safety standards and therefore could not meet minimum processing requirements. Despite this, it appears the licence was retained until recently.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture: Why did his department extend the licence of the operator who did not have an operational plan and could not meet basic operational standards?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the member for the advance copy of the question.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for that protection.
The plant in Sandy Cove was indeed licensed to a company named 3 T’s in 2003. It operated until 2009. For two years, Mr. Speaker, the plant was inoperable, no processing at all. As per provincial policy, we removed the licence from the plant in 2011.
I say to the member opposite, I understand the concern for the plant and the community and I would certainly implore upon the company to do the right thing and fix the plant.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. the Member for The Straits – White Bay North.
MR. MITCHELMORE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
At least now the people of Sandy Cove have an answer.
Mr. Speaker, the system has failed the people of Sandy Cove. A processor was able to retain his licence for more than two years when the plant was deemed unsafe, creating unemployment for local plant workers and limiting options for the harvesters to sell their catch. Mr. Speaker, DFA has stood in the way of economic development in this area and the people of Englee know the consequences of continued government inaction.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister what plans his government will make to quickly remediate the site and help the region in new economic developments?
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. KING: Mr. Speaker, I would implore upon the member opposite to try and bring some consistency to his message. For a number of days he has been asking me about opening plants all across this Province and why we are not doing more. Today he is asking me why we did not close Sandy Cove early. Mr. Speaker, I say to the member: shameful, if that is the view you have for rural Newfoundland and Labrador, that you want to close plants at the very first sight of trouble.
Mr. Speaker, let’s be very clear here that the onus to clean up a dilapidated fish plant does not rest with this government; it rests with the company. I say to the member opposite, and I say to the company 3 T’s: Do the right thing; the community and the workers have been loyal and committed to you over the years and helped you earn money from that plant. Do the right thing; go back in that community and fix it up or take it down and leave the community in good stead like it ought to be left.
