Whatever direction the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans takes under new Minister Geoff Regan, it will be with 600 fewer job slots.
In a January memo to staff members, DFO Deputy Minister Larry Murray said, “As you know, we have been looking at ways to improve the efficiency of our operations; make funds available for higher priorities; enhance service to Canadians and modernize our management practices.”
Murray continued, “Achieving this goal will require some changes. However, please be assured that there is no intention, recommendation, decision, or plan to lay off 600 people. By not filling some jobs that become vacant through normal attrition (e.g. retirements, etc.) and hiring fewer term, casual, and student employees, we will do our utmost to minimize impacts on DFO staff to the greatest extent possible.”
However, in mid-February Murray said final decisions had not been made.
DFO spokesman Steve Outhouse said that there could be layoffs down the road, but that they would be “the very last resort, but there are absolutely no plans to lay off anyone now. We may be increasing some workloads a little.”
In January, Regan toured Atlantic Canada where he met with fishermen and provincial government officials. DFO job cutbacks were on the agenda in Newfoundland, and Earle McCurdy, president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union and who met with Regan expressed concern.
“Some form of reduction has been going on for the last decade,” McCurdy said. “When cutbacks first occur, they don’t really have all that much impact, but as they continue they have a lot of impact and we’re well beyond that point now. These cutbacks will just compound the problems we already have.”
He added that he was waiting to see how the cutbacks would affect services locally. “But I’d be surprised if this doesn’t hurt conservation enforcement.”
Relatively new Newfoundland/Labrador Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Trevor Taylor also met with Regan. “We understand that options are being considered under the Departmental Assessment and Alignment Project of the Department of Fisheries & Oceans,” Taylor said. “We have not been informed or consulted regarding any of their staffing decisions.”
An issue that Regan got an earful about was the Newfoundland cod fishery.
Fishermen, citing scientific evidence and sentinel catches, told Regan that stocks have improved and they want him to re-open the Gulf of St. Lawrence cod fishery.
Provincial Minister Taylor agrees and says he urged Regan to “consider re-opening the gulf cod fishery.” Trevor added, “He listened to my concerns and indicated that he would consider my request. In the interests of the economic livelihood of the people in the affected area, I hope that we see some positive action on this.”
Regan himself said, “I am very encouraged by the new federal and provincial initiatives related to cod recovery and look forward to seeing the results of this collaboration in the development of long term strategies.”
In a related development, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council has issued its 2004-2005 recommendation to Minister Regan for the Newfoundland south coast cod fishery – that the Total Allowable Catch remain at the 2003-2004 level of 15,000 tons.
McCurdy said that the Council’s recommendation came as no surprise and added, “We can live with it.”