To say Steve Crocker has had a full agenda lately would be an understatement.
The newly-minted Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture told The Navigator that the briefings from his departmental officials have been many and often, but are going well.
“We have finished up what I will call the treetop briefings, so now we are starting to nail down issues and meet with more stakeholders and get briefings from them as to where they are with the fishery,” Crocker said.
Having been born and raised in rural Newfoundland, the new minister said he was always surrounded and influenced by the fishery.
“My background in the fishery is somewhat unique. I grew up in Heart’s Delight-Islington, on the south side of Trinity Bay. I have always seen the fishery — my family was never involved directly in the fishery, we were a small business and that’s the environment I grew up in. So I quickly learned growing up through the early 80s and into the mid-90s, I seen a lot of stuff happen with the fishery and the impact it has on local economies… I saw how our business was so reliant on the fishery.
Crocker was first elected to the House of Assembly in November 2014, when he took the by-election in Trinity — Bay de Verde and served as the Opposition critic for business and rural development, including the Research & Development Corporation. Prior to this, he served as executive assistant to Dwight Ball.
“It was interesting through the process of coming from his office, to opposition to where we are today to the see the importance that he (Premier Ball) placed on the fishery. All of our discussions as an opposition (involved) the value of the fishery to the province and being a renewable resource that we really need to get a good solid focus on because it is a key to our future.” And part of the primary focus for Crocker is going to be Newfoundland and Labrador’s relationship with the federal government on fisheries issues.
“In this portfolio, so much hinges on federal, provincial relations. The first priority, with that being said, has to be making sure we get off to the right start with the new federal government. If you look at the issues in the mandate letter… if there are seven or eight issues, I would venture to guess that the majority have some federal component.” He added that it was no secret that the relationship between the province and the former Harper government was a frosty one at best.
Crocker had an opportunity to start mending those wounds January 11, when he, along with Premier Ball and Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development Minister Christopher Mitchelmore, held face-to-face meetings with Federal Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Minister Hunter Tootoo and Parliamentary Secretary Serge Cormier.
“In the short-term, we have (priorities) LIFO, we have CETA and we have a cooperative management style we have to work towards as well,” Crocker explained.
The establishment of a fisheries advisory council will also be front and centre on his plate and with that the looming issue and/or opportunities of a returning cod stock.
“One of the mandates of that new advisory board is cod revitalization… We now have to quickly find a way to make sure that with the return of cod and groundfish… we are ready. 1992 is a long time ago and we don’t have a lot of capacity right now for groundfish. We need to find a way and we need to make sure that infrastructure, whether it harbour infrastructure, boat infrastructure, marketing infrastructure, is ready.”
Crocker added that it will be of no benefit to go back into a fishery and have no plan of where it is to go.
While the fishery, overall, is doing well in the province, another priority for the new minister is to focus on areas that might not be doing as well as some.
“There are parts of the province where the industry is having problems, such as 3Ps. It is important we don’t neglect the parts of the fishery where our attention is required.”
See related mandate letter below.
Newfoundland and Labrador Government Outlines Fisheries Priorities
The following is the departmental mandate letter sent to Steve Crocker, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture by Premier Dwight Ball.
I am honoured to welcome you to your role as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
We have been given an extraordinary opportunity to serve the people of our province and together we will work to create a stronger tomorrow for Newfoundland and Labrador. Over the next four years, we will fulfill our commitments, building on the trust placed in us on November 30, 2015. We shall, without fail, act with integrity in all aspects of our service, striving for excellence in discharging our responsibilities.
Embarking on this journey together, we will be guided by A Stronger Tomorrow: Our Five Point Plan to Restore Openness, Transparency and Accountability; Build a Stronger, Smarter Economy; Improve Health and Healthcare; Support Safe and Sustainable Communities; and Invest in Our Future Through Education.
As Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador I expect you to follow the principles of openness, transparency and accountability. It is my intention to ensure policy decisions in government are informed by research, evidence, and evaluation so that citizens can understand how and why decisions are made. It is critical that our government’s decisions are also informed by engagement with stakeholders, including our Aboriginal partners, to ensure everyone’s voices are heard.
Our government is committed to modernizing our province’s legislative process in accordance with these principles and I call upon you to engage your fellow Members, constituents and the general public; avail of the Committee process of the House of Assembly; and seek opportunities for non-partisan cooperation.
We are also committed to creating an environment that captures the full potential of our province’s many riches, through diversification, job creation and growth. We will take action to improve the health and well-being of people, empower sustainable community development, protect public safety and advance educational opportunities and outcomes.
Our province is facing significant fiscal challenges that require our collective leadership and the engagement of the public. Together, our government will lead our province towards a more sustainable, economic future.
As Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, you will be responsible for fundamental pillars of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy.
The fishery is a renewable resource with exciting opportunities for new growth that contributes to the social and economic vitality ofour province’s rural communities.
Strong Fisheries Policy
You are directed to establish a Fisheries Advisory Council consisting of representatives from all sectors of the industry, including harvesters, processors, research experts and the general public, to inform and influence fisheries policy and programs on an ongoing basis, including the creation of sustainable small-scale fisheries. The Fisheries Advisory Council will immediately be asked to create a strategic action plan on cod revitalization, focusing on environmental sustainability, harvesting, processing, quality, innovation, and marketing.
To continue to grow our fishing industry, in partnership with industry players, you will lead the establishment of a Seafood Marketing Council, whose mission will be to promote the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry, and to secure and expand market opportunities locally and globally.
Aquaculture also holds tremendous potential and fosters job creation in our rural communities. Working in collaboration with your colleagues and the aquaculture industry, I expect you to support research and development opportunities in this growing field, including environmental sustainability and waste management issues.
Working with Federal Counterparts
I expect you to strongly advocate to the federal government on issues related to the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery and oceans policy in collaboration with your colleagues, given their role in the fishery. Advocacy efforts should include the following:
- Joint fisheries management;
- A new, fair arrangement for Northern shrimp quotas;
- Full annual scientific assessments of northern shrimp resources and a plan to study the impact of climate change on the species and its ecosystems;
- An expanded recreational groundfish fishery; and,
- Opportunities to develop marine fisheries tourism.
The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is the most ambitious trade agreement ever negotiated by Canada or the European Union. I expect you, with the support of your colleagues, and the federal government to finalize an agreement on the CETA Fisheries Investment Fund, and develop and implement related programming when finalized.
In fulfilling your responsibility as Minister you must ensure collaboration, in a positive and constructive manner, with your Cabinet colleagues. 1 take this opportunity to remind you that as you carry out your responsibilities, as a Member of the House of Assembly and Member of Cabinet, adhering to the Code of Conduct and the Conflict of Interest guidelines are mandatory, to ensure you discharge your duties with the highest ethical standards.
Deputy Ministers are your key source of support and will provide you with non-partisan advice in meeting your responsibilities. I expect you to develop a positive, respectful and trusting relationship with your Deputy Minister and the public service. I would also ask that you be mindful that Deputy Ministers, among their various responsibilities, are ultimately accountable to me, through the Clerk of the Executive Council.
Our government will report back to the public annually on the achievement of our commitments and make adjustments as required. As a Minister you are accountable for achieving these priorities and meeting other responsibilities within your Department.
Together, we will provide strong leadership to deliver the change we need to move beyond today’s challenges and on to a stronger tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Premier Dwight Ball
