Elections shouldn’t hold back lobster levy, says MacKinley

P.E.I. Fisheries Minister Ron MacKinley is optimistic all three Maritime provinces will have legislation in place for a lobster marketing levy by the time the spring fishery opens.

The one cent a pound levy on fishermen’s catches would be matched by processors to create a marketing fund worth about $2.5 million a year. Legislation allowing the levy to be collected was supposed to be passed in all three provinces by the end of the year.

“We are full steam ahead here,” said MacKinley.

“We have got an act on the floor of the house now for final reading.”

But Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are not expected to have legislation ready this year.

“Nova Scotia is not as up to speed as we are. This was started under Belliveau, under the NDP, and then all of the sudden the election changed and you've got a new minister in there,” said MacKinley.

“Same as New Brunswick, they started under the Conservative government and now there is a Liberal government in there, and it takes time for those ministers to get a hold of the file and to be able to feel comfortable with it.”

MacKinley still feels everything will be in place by May.

P.E.I. fishermen have already voted in favour of the levy.