The Prince Albert Grand Council is slamming the provincial government over its decision to eliminate the freight subsidy for commercial fishers in this spring’s budget — saying it “could cost thousands of First Nations jobs”.
The PAGC says the decision needs to be reversed or it’s going to affect fishers drastically.
According to the grand council, there were 373 licenced fishers operating last year — but there are at least 1,200 people employed in the commercial fishing industry in northern Saskatchewan.
Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Darrell McCallum notes his people in Kinoosao are almost totally dependent on the fishery, and hundreds more are employed in other communities.
McCallum adds he wants to see a new fish processing plant built in the province — but the elimination of the freight subsidy will make it more difficult to generate the amount of fish needed for viability.
Vice-chief Brian Hardlotte argues that fishing is a treaty right and the province needs to consult with First Nations before bringing in changes like this one.
He adds the subsidy has been in place since 1975, and mainly benefited fishers in the province’s far north by helping them get their fish to market.