The following was submitted by the office of MP Ryan Williams
In December of 2022 the leaseholders at the Commercial Fishing Village Heritage Area at Prince Edward Point Wildlife Area were notified they were to leave the area – the area many of them have been fishing at for most of their lives. Environment and Climate Change Canada provided notice of lease termination and removal of property letters.
Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams reached out to Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault in April of this year and then again in May. After four months of silence, the Minister replied back – just days ahead of the deadline for leaseholders to leave the area. The news was not in their favour. Minister Guilbeault stated “As noted in
your letter, when the Government of Canada established the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area in 1978, the Department entered into 10 lease agreements with the local commercial fishers to ensure continuance of commercial fishing activities, in support of an existing economic activity of importance to the local community. These leases were for onsite equipment storage and short-term overnight accommodations in support of commercial fishing. Many of the leases were terminated throughout the 1980s as commercial fishing practices changed. Environment and Climate Change Canada has not entered into new leases since that time.”
MP Williams “This just doesn’t make sense. We are in a recession and these leases help residents who are trying to make a living as a commercial fisherman.” Williams states “We have worked with Linda McCormack, a leaseholder. She and her family have had a lease on this land for almost 75 years. This should be
grandfathered in.”
“My team and I will continue to press the Ministry to allow this leaseholder to keep their building which is crucial to continuing their commercial fishing operation.”
