aims

Like Gulliver pinned down by those frightened Lilliputians, the phenomenal growth potential of Canadian aquaculture is being hog-tied because of government and financial policies that are suffocating development. That was the message delivered on the opening day of How to Farm the Sea, an international conference co-sponsored by AIMS and The Canadian Aquaculture Institute.

AIMS brings together leading national and international experts to clarify both the strengths and weaknesses of aquaculture, and to lay down the basis for a sensible public policy framework to govern the industry.

The 1996 changes to the Employment Insurance system were supposed to encourage seasonal workers to work more and draw less from the EI fund. For fishermen, at least, that hasn't happened. Instead of discouraging people from becoming seasonal fishermen, the system has increased the number of fishermen over the two years since the reforms were implemented. Prior to 1996, fishermen needed to work for at least 12 weeks and had to earn a minimum amount to qualify for unemployment insurance. But in 1996 the basis changed from weeks worked to sales alone. Net sales of as little as $2,500 worth of fish were enough to qualify a fisherman for a half year of benefits In total the easy availability of fisheries EI benefits contributed to many more people entering the fishery than were bought out during the moratorium. Communications Director Peter Fenwick argues that the time limit must be restored if a disaster is to be averted Publication: NP, September 28, 2000

Here is a brief overview of just some of AIMS' activities and publications for the second half of September 2000

Far from being an economic backwater, Atlantic Canada especially in the urban areas, is on a roll. The unemployment rate in Halifax is lower than Edmonton's. Virtually all the urban areas of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and mainland Nova Scotia are behaving like normal economies. But rural Atlantic Canada is still mired in too much EI and too much government interference says Peter Fenwick, AIMS Communication Director. When un-informed members of the political parties call maritimers "lazy", they do so with badly outdated information. Publication: HDN, September 15, 2000.

How to Farm the Seas II to be held in Vancouver in February 2001

Here is a brief overview of just some of AIMS' activities and publications for the first half of September 2000

Attempts by politicians to restore Employment Insurance to highly paid seasonal workers should be resisted says Peter Fenwick, AIMS Director of Communications. As the parties gear up for the coming election some MPs are demanding that the reforms of four years ago be repealed. One of the most significant reforms was the clawback, a provision that effectively took away much of the employment insurance highly paid seasonal workers. Part of that deal in 1996 gave significantly higher benefits to lowly paid EI recipients. It was part of a restructuring that made the whole system much more equitable. Publication: ETSJ, September 9, 2000.

Dr. Douglas Powell to advise aquaculture conference on appropriate management of risk factors in food safety

Plugging in Atlantic Canada