Keddy asks Nova Scotia Fisheries Loan Board to give fishers a break in their loan repayments

December 04, 2008

 

Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s, has written a letter to the Honourable Ron Chisholm, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, asking for the Nova Scotia government to consider giving fishers a break in their loan repayments.

In his letter, Keddy points to the economic challenges currently facing the Industry and asks for the provincial government to consider allowing fishers, with loans through the Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board, to simply pay the interest on their loan and not the capital for the reminder of this and the next fiscal year.

“With the current volatility of the markets, many of the fishers in my riding are very anxious as to what this year’s lobster season will bring,” said Keddy. “There is no question that fishers will be facing hard economic times ahead and anything that we, as government, can do to assist our fishers would certainly be of benefit.”

Keddy followed up his letter with a phone call to Minister Chisholm who assured Keddy that the department is prepared to do everything it can to help fishers weather this economic downturn. This includes dealing with fishers, on an individual basis, to provide flexibility with their loan repayments.