On-message

On Thursday, The Provincial Government expressed disappointment in the failure of industry to make Our Dear Agenda its agenda, too:

The Provincial Government is expressing disappointment at the result of the vote by the seafood processing sector on the proposal for a provincial seafood marketing council. The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture offered the seafood processing sector the opportunity to vote on the proposal and they have voted against establishing a council. A provincial seafood marketing council was a key recommendation of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy, which was developed after extensive series of consultations with industry. This was an opportunity for processors to enhance their marketing capability and support their sales efforts.

The province committed to provide up to $5.4 million in financial support to initiate such a council for a trial period of three years. In addition, the Provincial Government had already initiated discussions seeking a comparable level of financial support from the Federal Government.

“I’m at a loss to understand why the industry would vote against something that has been a very positive initiative in other seafood producing regions such as Norway and Alaska,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

On Friday, The Provincial Government took to the airwaves of the Ministry of Truth to repeat its message – verbatim:

It certainly was a great opportunity for processors to enhance their marketing capacity and, I guess, support their sales efforts, and The Province had committed, this government had committed to up to $5.4-million in financial support, so I’m, I’m at a loss to understand why the industry would vote against something that’s been such a very positive initiative in, in other regions, such as Norway and Alaska.

The Ministry of Truth then dutifully reported The Provincial Government’s disappointment. Norway and Alaska – they’re countries, you know!

Hedderson Looks to Fishery - Feb 13, 2009

Fisheries Minister Tom Hedderson says he will look to the industry for direction, after seafood processors rejected a proposal for a provincial marketing council. He says while exactly 50 per cent of those voting supported the idea, they represented less than half the production value of seafood in the province. Hedderson says the proposed council came out of key recommendations after consultations with the industry. Hedderson says government committed 5.4 million dollars to initiate for a trial period of 3 years. He says he's at a loss to understand why it was not accepted when the council has been so positively received in countries like Alaska and Norway.