Federal mismanagement -- the heart of the problem

Editorial Comment

JOHN ADAMS

I have to confess that last week's Compass editorial page left me feeling rather confused.
First off I read the guest editorial by Philip Earle on the future of rural Newfoundland.
I am not usually given to emotion on that subject. I try to be as realistic and analytical as I can be, but the only Newfoundlander who wouldn't be touched and moved by the truth of his article is either dead or ensconced in one of our seven federal seats in Ottawa.
By pure coincidence, as I finished reading the editorial, Mr. Earle came on the open line with Randy Simms. 

In his conversation I heard Mr. Earle refer to his communication with the Suzuki Foundation in British Columbia.

I thought back to last November when I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in that beautiful province. I thought especially of the morning when I picked up a copy of the Vancouver Sun and was greeted with a full-page ad where the stakeholders in BC's wild salmon fishery pleaded with our federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn and with the department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to save their industry.

The claim was being made that the survival rate for wild salmon in rivers near salmon farms was down to 10 per cent. Apparently wild salmon passing in waters near the aquaculture sites were becoming so infested with sea lice that 90 per cent of the young fish were dying. I couldn't stick around and wait for a response from the feds, but I remember thinking to myself:

Number 1: Ottawa mismanaged the 500-year-old North Atlantic Cod Fishery into oblivion in only a couple of decades.

Number 2: The very lucrative British Columbia wild salmon fishery is heading down the same road.

Number 3: According to the news reports the fish in most of our inland waters are so loaded with mercury and toxins that they are of no use to our aboriginal communities.

That brought me to this question: Could we, the coastal people Mr. Earle referred to, and the aboriginal people form a united front to take back real control of our fisheries? Could we bring into battle on our side the Suzuki Foundation, the Sierra Club and other valid and respected environmental groups who can help build and present our case against what is nothing short of an environmental disaster?
With a federal election breathing down our necks, there can never be a better time to strike at the very heart of the problem that is federal mismanagement.

For some time now we have been hearing rumours about an ABC (Anything But Conservative) campaign to be waged by our provincial government.

We know what ABC means in the political arena here in Newfoundland, but I am not convinced about the length of Premier Williams' coat tails on the other side of the gulf.  My ABC would be broadened to stand for "Always Bountiful Coasts." I believe the ammunition is already in place and if properly presented can give ABC a true national profile and purpose. 

Oh yes, I started this by saying I was confused after reading the editorial page, the reason for the confusion was in the "letters" section of the page under the heading "Nothing further from the truth," I learned that my beloved province is still a massive drag on the Canadian coffers, but that didn't jive with other statements about our contribution to the federation. Then I thought about the fish for car plant deals that we believed Ottawa was responsible for - but in <I>The Telegram<I> of Feb. 11, 07, Jamie Baker reports on the Gough Report, which denied any such deals ever took place.

I finally found peace of mind when I went back to <I>The Telegram<I> for Nov. 9, 07 where Alisha Morrissey's article has Minister Loyola Hearn assure us that the Fishery Renewal Program will have a positive impact."

At that point I believed absolutely every word that came from Ottawa. I took my medication and settled down for the rest of the day.

John Adams operates a business in Bay Roberts and resides in Riverhead, Harbour Grace. This is his first opinion piece as a member of The Compass editorial board. His guest editorials along with those of other editorial board members will appear in future issues. The Compass already has several members on our new editorial board. Anyone who would like to avail of this opportunity to share their opinions on issues of public concern with our readers is asked to contact the editor for further information.

The Compass

Feb. 26, 2008