While questioning ministers in parliament this week Ashton pointed out this pandemic has hit local businesses hard.  She explained import markets for our fish have dried up and this is devastating for our inland fishery.  She says the season opened last week and fisheries are desperate for support adding for Indigenous fishers fishing sustains their community, it is their way of life so will the government work with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation and inland fishers to develop and facilitate the delivery of an emergency package that works for them and find ways to redirect product to domestic markets including communities facing food insecurity now.

Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan replied they recognize how hard the pandemic hit the fisheries sector.  She noted the harvesters benefit is available, EI benefits will be based on the previous season and they continue to look at ways to address challenges faced by the Freshwater Fisheries Marketing Corporation.