Liberal hypocrisy evident on Lake Nipissing fishery

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli
News Release

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The two-faced nature of the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals is clearly on display when it comes to the Lake Nipissing walleye fishery, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said today.

Fedeli, who attended the Lake Nipissing Summit at CanadoreCollege today, pointed to a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources earlier this week that touted the benefits of restocking in Ontario, and noted that sport fishing is a $2.4 billion industry in the province.

“Their release states the Ministry has invested $5.5 million in restocking in Ontario. Yet this summer, in North Bay, the Ministry says restocking won't work, but then looks for praise for spending millions restocking lakes elsewhere", added Fedeli.

“The stakeholders offered to restock Lake Nipissing with their own funds, but the Ministry said no and instead cut the daily catch limit in half, and in the process damaged businesses around the lake who rely on the fishery for their livelihood,” Fedeli continued.

“This is pure, unadulterated Liberal hypocrisy at its worst.”

The fact the Ministry is using a meeting with area stakeholders to justify their catch limit reduction decision, when the stakeholders don’t agree with it, is the ultimate insult, Fedeli added.

“This government is trying to use Northerners as pawns to justify their misguided decisions, and we in Nipissing won’t stand for that,” said Fedeli.

“It’s time to put policy before politics when it comes to the Lake Nipissing walleye fishery, and the Minister needs to revisit other options to catch limit reductions, including restocking.”

Lake Nipissing is the seventh most fished lake in the province, and contributes $120 million to $190 million to the regional economy,” added Fedeli.

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