MLA Dave Wilson's Op-ed: Belliveau and the Fisheries Loan Board
I know from fishers in my own community of Glace Bay that fishing is a tough business, not the least of which, is the difficulty in securing financing for licenses, gear and boats.Far too many fishers compete for loans from the Nova Scotia Fisheries Loan Board, with many disappointed, and others with very large loans to banks.
That’s why the questions concerning the Minister of Fisheries and the disposal of his “fishing enterprise” especially resonate on the fishing wharfs of Nova Scotia.
Someone bought the Minister’s gear, with $576 thousand dollars of money from the Nova Scotia Fisheries Loan Board - that’s $576 thousand dollars of taxpayer’s money.
That amount represents about 4 percent of the total yearly budget of the Fisheries Loan Board ultimately ended up in the bank account of the Minister of Fisheries.
The Premier has insisted his minister did nothing wrong: that his Minister sought advice from the Office of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, got that advice and followed it. According to the Premier, that should end the matter.
But of course, it doesn’t.
There is no proof that the Minister followed the advice from the Commissioner to assign all decision making in the matter to someone else in the Department, and to do so in such a way that it is clear that he did not influence a decision on that loan.
Any reasonable person can appreciate the challenges facing the individual in the Department of Fisheries appointed to handle that hot potato. And any reasonable person can imagine the challenges to the members of the Fisheries Loan Board considering an application for a loan from the individual buying the Minister’s fishing license and boat, especially given the fact the Minister currently has his own loan with the Board.
Each of one of those individuals is there at the pleasure of the Minister.
Government is about making choices.
The Premier and his Minister could have made different choices and better choices for Nova Scotia. The Premier could have designated responsibility for the Fisheries Loan Board to another minister until the Minister of Fisheries had disposed of his assets.
The Minister of Fisheries could have insisted the buyer of his vessel not seek a loan from his Department, but rather seek assistance from another source.
Fishing is a tough business.
Tougher still will be convincing Nova Scotians that this deal was a good deal for them.
As your Official Opposition, we will continue to call for full disclosure on this matter and we will continue to ask important questions on your behalf.
Back
