Council heard a number of deputations last Tuesday evening angrily protesting the eviction of commercial fishers from their historic fishing village at Prince Edward Point by order of the Canada Wildlife Service, which plans to raze the village as part of its remediation of what has been designated a National Wildlife Area.

All of the speakers called on council to do more to protect the fishers at Point Traverse. South Marysburgh’s Rachel Adams called out Council for its “total lack of acknowledgment of the importance of fishing to the County in the 2021 Official Plan,” a document that supposedly safeguards local heritage, industry, shorelines, and employment opportunities.

“The Official Plan is supposed to be your ‘guiding vision’, Ms Adams said. “Unconscionably, something that is not alluded to once in the Plan’s 233 pages is the County’s commercial fishery.”

Rather than recognize the fishing’s historic contribution, and support it, she noted, the Plan suggests commercial fishing does not exist here, and fails to include it in any policy consideration. In paragraphs about the municipality protecting the ability to source fresh and local food, and in paragraphs that describe access to and commercial uses of the County’s shorelines, there is no mention of the 200-year-old practice.

“According to the Official Plan, the commercial fishery, the backbone of this shoreline community for over two centuries, does not exist,” Ms Adams said.

Meanwhile, references to agriculture are everywhere in the Plan. Farming is described as integral, historical, and vital. The Plan calls for protection of farming as “important to the County’s historical, cultural and economic character.” It describes agricultural land as having “deep historical roots,” which “shall be protected for long-term use. All types, sizes and intensities of agricultural uses shall be promoted and protected.”

“These statements equally apply to the commercial fishery. They equally justify protection and opportunities for it,” said Ms. Adams.

CALL TO ACTION- Commercial fisher Jordan McCormack called on council to get involved and support him in his fight against the Canadian Wildlife Service. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

Ms. Adams closed by demanding that council take immediate action to stop federal interference in the fishery, and said the Official Plan must be amended to recognize, support and protect the commercial fishery of Prince Edward County.

Councillor John Hirsch agreed, and drafted a motion asking that staff look for places where commercial fishing, the first non-agricultural local industry in PEC, can be protected in amendments to the Official Plan.

“We want to do a comb of the entire Plan to make sure we get this right,” CAO Marcia Wallace said, explaining staff will need some time. A report is expected in the first quarter of 2024.

Council also agreed to send a letter to Fisheries and Oceans Canada calling it to take up dredging at the Point Traverse harbour, the only safe harbour at the Point for commercial and recreational craft caught in a storm. Commercial fishers have been doing the work on a volunteer basis each spring.

Ms. Adams noted commercial fishing is under threat because of the ECCC’s destruction of vital infrastructure at Point Traverse. “Fishery infrastructure has never been a threat to anyone’s health or safety, nor to wildlife,” she said. For its part, the Ministry earlier declared the collection of sheds and cabins at “end of life,” posing an increasing hazard as they deteriorate.

The evening was not without fireworks.

Commercial fisher Jordan McCormack accused Mayor Steve Ferguson of indifference and of doing nothing to help the evicted fishers.

Mayor Ferguson said he and all members of council support the County’s commercial fishery, and noted that while the federal government has “exercised its rights,” considerable discussion between council and Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams has taken place to determine the best approach with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change

“MP Williams has been working diligently behind the scenes to get Minister Steven Guilbeault to look more seriously at this matter,” the mayor said. “We hope to have conversations with MP Williams about how we could be of assistance. We are looking forward to an update from him in the next week or so.”