Green Party of Nova Scotia

Building a Sustainable Future Together

Violence and Arson over Fishery is a Failure of Government

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

 

“The violence and intimidation in Southwest Nova Scotia must be stopped and denounced by all. This continuing anarchy represents a failure by two levels of government to protect law and order”

– Thomas Trappenberg, leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia

 

The heinous acts of intimidation, violence and property damage by some commercial fishers against indigenous people in the ongoing dispute over the livable fisheries must be met with the full force of the law.

The Green Party of Nova Scotia denounces the violence in Pubnico yesterday that saw a mob destroy a building, set fire to a vehicle and that endangered a man’s safety. We demand that the criminals responsible be identified, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that the RCMP explain why no arrests were made despite being present during the incident they characterized as “mischief”.

This latest act of mob rule surrounding the livable fishery dispute represents a failure by two levels of government, and stains the reputation of many commercial fishermen who continue to respect law and order. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) under minister Bernadette Jordan has completely failed to make clear under what specific conditions the Mi’kmaq Nation can apply its Treaty Rights to a Livable Fishery, which some cite as the cause of the dispute.

More disturbing is the provincial government’s failure in its primary duty to protect the safety of all citizens living in Nova Scotia from threats of fear, violence and maintain law and order. No one in Canada has the right to take the law into their own hands under any circumstances. Disputes, both criminal and civil, can only be resolved through authorized law enforcement officers and the courts.

That tensions continue to be high in this multilateral dispute was entirely predictable. That no serious action was taken since the last dangerous criminal behaviour made against indigenous fishers is unacceptable and inexcusable.

Law and Order Must be Restored

The governments of Nova Scotia and Canada cannot continue to tolerate these acts of terror. By not denouncing and prosecuting those responsible, the provincial government, DFO and RCMP are enabling these criminals to continue to flaunt law and order, and endanger lives and property.

The Green Party of Nova Scotia is asking for all citizens, and all levels of government, to denounce these violent, criminal acts and demand justice for those harmed.

 

Green Party of Nova Scotia principles:

++ Sustainability

Move all open-net pen finfish aquaculture facilities into closed containment systems on land. As with land farmers transitioning from conventional production, ensuring necessary financial and extension support to fish farm workers to make this transition.

++ Local Self-Reliance

Communities must be in charge of their own destinies and resources as much as possible. Economic development cannot be directed solely by central authorities for the unique benefit of elites.

++ Non Violence

We declare our commitment to nonviolence, and to strive for a culture of peace and cooperation between nations, inside societies and between individuals. We believe that security should not rest mainly on physical strength but on cooperation, equal justice, sound economic and social development, environmental safety, and respect for human rights.

Press Release – Vigilantism in the Fisheries Dispute

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

THERE IS NO PLACE IN CANADA FOR VIGILANTISM

 

The Green Party of Nova Scotia condemns in the strongest possible terms the illegal acts of vigilantism demonstrated by some Fundy shore commercial fishermen over the past 24 hours.  

Canadian civilians are not allowed to enforce regulations or interpret  laws, or deputize themselves to do so.  Governments and police are the sole authorities empowered to regulate resources and enforce laws.  

21 years of inaction towards the practical application of the Moderate Livable fishery by successive governments represents a complete dereliction of duty to both Mi’kmaq and non-native communities, leading  some to desperate and criminal acts.

 

The events of the past few days in Comeauville, Saulnierville and Metahegan are extremely dangerous, shameful, and demand immediate provincial government action to guarantee the safety of all people and protect the rule of law.  

In the past 24 hours, groups of commercial fishermen admitted, through spokesmen Colin Sproul, the president of the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermans Association, and Martin Mallet of the Maritime Fishermans Union, to taking the law into their own hands, removing lobster traps and releasing catch that did not belong to them, which Sproul contends was done under the supervision of RCMP and DFO authorities.  They also admit to cutting lines to traps, adding to the growing pile of ghost gear polluting the ocean. In Comeauville dozens of vehicles and more than 50 men identified and surrounded the home of an individual they allege purchased lobster in a manner they considered illegal. 

Under what legal jurisdiction did these fishermen operate when they confiscated property not belonging to them?  Which authority from the RCMP or DFO appointed commercial fishermen as deputies in regulatory enforcement?  Was permission or training given to everyone, or specific individuals?  The mob that assembled in Comeauville claim they were protesting, but made clear accusations offering no evidence towards an unnamed individual, while openly flaunting provincial COVID laws governing social distancing and masks. 

Canadians do not have the right to enforce regulations or interpret laws.  The acts committed over the past days are equivalent to theft, vandalism, illegal dumping, intimidation, and mob rule without any accountability or liability to the public.  If police, federal and provincial authorities tolerate this behaviour, then governments are complicit in normalizing vigilantism and exploiting those commercial fishermen to solve problems they are responsible for.

The Green Party of Nova Scotia condemns acts of vigilantism in any form. We live in a land of law and order.  The Mi’kmaq people used legal means over 21 years to have their rights ruled on in the public court system.  The commercial fishermen of Nova Scotia who participated in the events of the last week would be well served to follow the Mi’kmaq example of how to respect the laws of Canada.

Edmonds to run in Sackville-Cobequid By-election

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Anthony Edmonds, Green Party CandidateWe are pleased to announce that GPNS Past Co-President (and current Policy Co-Convener) Anthony Edmonds will be our candidate in the Sackville-Cobequid By-election.

Anthony is a young, family-oriented professional engineer with a strong sense of responsibility and a record of community involvement. He will make a fantastic MLA.

If you would like to support his campaign by volunteering, donating, hosting a lawn sign, or attending events, contact Anthony’s campaign team at SC2019@greenpartyns.ca.

UPCOMING GREEN WAVE EVENTS 

FRIDAY – 24 May, 4:45 to 5:45 – near Cobequid bus terminal (Legacy Ct, Lower Sackville)
SATURDAY – 25 May, 12:30 to 2:30 – near Saint John Vianney Church (Corner of Sackville Drive and Beaver Bank Road), to be followed by (very much optional) canvassing (including training for inexperienced canvassers)
THURSDAY – 30 May, 4:45 to 5:45 – Corner of Cobequid and Glendale (near Irving)
SATURDAY – 1 June, 12:30 to 2:30 – Beaver Bank and Glendale (near gas station)

Leader’s Rant: Roller-coasters and the way forward

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I don’t know about you, but I have been on an emotional roller-coaster. I have been worried, even frightened about our outlook with the disappearance of biomass, and I admit I was a bit angered by the ignorance of governments and media who should be there to look out for us. At the same time, I also feel excited about so many opportunities to solve poverty and build better communities.

I have now come to terms that we will have a massive increase of temperature, maybe 5 degrees C or more given our current inaction. We will certainly not sustain life as we know it. The only thing that bothers me now is not taking actions to make the necessary changes for our children. We clearly see now that we can not trust big business and current governments with our future, and we must take urgent actions to regain control for the people.

Slowing down climate change is now very important to give us some time to make life-preserving changes. The next concern must be water and food security; without water or food we will starve in a couple of days or weeks. I am particularly worried about pollution of ground water. Any fracking or plans thereof must therefore stop immediately. Guaranteeing enough food supplies will be a continuous struggle. The changing ecosystems will put a lot of pressure on farming. Disappearing insects, the assault on microorganisms with chemical warfare, and the rise of new diseases require immediate and increasing attention.

The next problem to tackle is the massive change around labour and energy. Our historical development brought us from the age of human and animal labour to farm land, via the use of energy and labour in the industrial age, to the emerging age of automation in which energy will be central. Energy will represent the wealth of our society, and energy must thus belong to the people. At the same time, we must shift energy rapidly away from carbon. There is not a single solution to the energy problem, but there is a host of possibilities. Local solar farms in our communities, wind, geothermal and micro-hydro can be employed where appropriate. Distributing the wealth from these facilities must belong to all of us. The most direct way to achieve this now is a guaranteed livable income.

We will have a wild ride in front of us, and it’s time to take it. Bring honest and ethical people in a room who really care about our children and grandchildren, and we can do this. I am going to PEI today to see a historical change in the making. Sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option.

Leader’s Rant: On Grandmothers and Neighbors

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Another frustrating day. Warning, this is a bit of a rant.

It is so heartwarming to see how three Mi’kmaq grandmothers rushed to save our livelihood to protect our water. After their release they came to the province house to fight on. The fight against Alton Gas is becoming for me a symbol for our choice, a future for our children or giving in to oil and greed.

I had again some internal battles I want to share. I didn’t want to speak because I really want to listen to our First Nations who have all the right to shame us (and they didn’t, they were encouraging all of us). Do we really need another politician who tells everyone what we need to do? On the other hand, if we do not speak we will never be heard. So, I said only a few words even though there is so much I should talk about.

I admire the courage and commitment of the people who again stood on the streets in the cold. It feels good to stand with them. However, I am getting worried and sad thinking what does it change at the end? Of course, it is the absolutely necessary as the beginning to wake us up, but do we really believe by now that the politicians inside this House are changing anything because we are there?

So here is my problem. There are so many good people demonstrating, but I think most of such engaged minds find politics dirty and do not participate. Then there is this large fraction of the population which just don’t seem to care anymore, and who could blame them. But with these attitudes, and also with this devastating strategic voting, what will ever change?

We really need another government, and likely a different governance model. I actually think that parties are mostly detrimental at this time. But to change within the system we need to elect people who are really there because of the issues. The Greens are not paid by big oil and are here because of climate change and social injustice. We need to get people active on this front, even so its politics. If we have people who can talk to the neighbors we can make a real change. This is how revolutions happen, not by discussions in the parliament. Interestingly, this was also the message of the Mi’kmaq elders. We need to get active and do this by talking to our neighbors.