Funding to help shelters provide 40 more beds
“We have seen our homeless client numbers double since the beginning of the pandemic.”
Pam Glode-desrochers
Two not-for-profit organizations will provide 40 additional beds to those experiencing homelessness in Halifax.
Monday morning, Nova Scotia announced it was providing funding for 25 beds at the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre and 15 beds for the shelter run by the North End Community Health Centre.
"We have seen our homeless client numbers double since the beginning of the pandemic," Pam Glode-desrochers, executive director of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, said in a news release.
"This support from the province could not come at a more pivotal time as it will help the growing number of Indigenous and non-indigenous people who are struggling to find affordable housing in the middle of this unparalleled health crisis."
As of Dec. 8, according to the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, there were 490 people experiencing
transferring them to First Nations, it never began consultation on a separate fishery that addressed the right acknowledged by the court in its famous Marshall decisions.
MODERATE LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENTS
That is until this fall, when First Nations began launching their own fisheries.
Two weeks ago, federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan sent Sipekne'katik First Nation a memorandum of understanding that would have provided the band with 10 licences for 70 traps each that had to be fished during the LFA 34 commercial fishery (late November through to spring).
Chief Mike Sack ended talks with Jordan last week, saying his First Nation refused to be lumped in with a commercial fishery.
Sipekne'katik has 15 commercial lobster licences among LFAS 33, 34 and 35.
There are apparently consultations going on between the minister and other First Nations but Jordan has refused to release further details on them as they are “nation to nation.”
Commercial fishermen have called for a moderate livelihood fishery to be conducted during the local commercial seasons, which were established for conservation and market purposes.
Prices for licences and gear vary according to the area they are fished, but $400,000 is a common figure along this stretch of coast, where the commercial fishery runs through May and June.
Many commercial fishermen have been reticent to speak publicly, saying they fear being labelled as a racist or targeted on social media if their names are used.
They say they fear that new fishing efforts on a limited resource will hurt their enterprises.
And, they say, the resource has been kept healthy because of voluntary measures adopted by the industry, such as v-notching, trap reductions, escape hatches in traps and returning productive females to the water.
Pictou Landing has 23 commercial lobster licences (15 in LFA 26a, eight in LFA 26b) and 11 Area 19 snow crab licences that it largely fishes with its own fleet.
The moderate livelihood tags issued by the band this fall are for 30 traps each during a self-established twomonth fall fishery that wraps up today.
“This is something your typical commercial wouldn't do,” said Denny of Sunday's confrontation.
“Last year this guy threatened one of our moderate livelihood fishermen with a shotgun.”
RCMP Cpl. Lisa Crouteau said police were first called about shots fired in Pictou Landing at about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. A 51-year-old Pictou County man was arrested Sunday evening in relation to the incident and three more arrested Monday. The RCMP did not state what charges, if any, are pending.
Pictou Landing Chief Andrea Paul would welcome more information.
“It is absolutely sickening that they would take these extreme measures on our harvesters,” she said. “It was dangerous. It was reckless.”
She hopes the RCMP and courts treat the matter seriously.
“I can't have harvesters in my community afraid to exercise their right to fish,” said Paul
On Monday morning, Bernard headed out alone to start hauling the family's traps before their season closes on Tuesday.
A DFO boat was patrolling the area and she didn't fear for her safety.
Watching from shore, Denny said of the moderate livelihood struggle, “It's exhausting. But we're not going to give up.”