The Sask. NDP are putting the closure of the Northern Wild Fishery in Wollaston Lake squarely on the feet of the provincial government.
The shutdown, affecting 25 jobs and the livelihoods of fisherman is attributed to the high transportation costs as there is not an all-weather road to Wollaston Lake.
Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette says this project was committed to in 2012, but has stalled.
“If this was down south or anywhere else and we were having issues like this would be fixed immediately and you wouldn’t have governments playing hot potato with it, you’d have them dealing with it. This government needs to take some action once and for all for the commitment it made to the community,” Vermette said.
While the government awaits approval for a funding application for phase one of the project, a winter road to eliminate the ice road, it is sending in its rapid response teams to assist those affected by the shutdown in Wollaston Lake and Prince Albert with information about employment services, training options, job opportunities and how to apply for Employment Insurance.
Vermette says northerners deserve adequate infrastructure to support their economy.
“It’s about economics, its about providing for their families. The cost of living up there is unreal. When you have Cameco and jobs that were lost there and the 20 jobs lost in Wollaston Lake, it doesn’t make sense for a government not to support an all-weather road,” Vermette explained.