Frenette wants next fisheries minister to be from P.E.I.

Who will be the next fisheries minister?

That is a question on the minds of many in the industry as they seek government support to tackle a host of issues.

Reports are that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will name his cabinet this week, following the Conservatives win in the Oct. 18 election.

While the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is certainly prepared to work with whoever the prime minister appoints to the fisheries post, executive director Ed Frenette does admit to having a hometown favourite.

There has not been a fisheries minister from P.E.I. in recent memory and Frenette maintains it is time to change that. The list of possible candidates is short. In fact, it only includes one name. Gail Shea is the first Conservative elected in P.E.I. since 1988 and the first since 1980 in the Egmont riding she won by 55 votes following a recount.

The province has traditionally had a voice at the cabinet table when it has MPs on the government side. Fisheries is being mentioned as one possibility this time around for the P.EI. presence at the cabinet table. The prime minister has no choice but to pick a new minister for the post since the last political head of the department, Newfoundland’s Loyola Hearn, did not re-offer. In fact, Newfoundland takes over P.E.I.’s status as the only province without a government MP, thanks largely to the “Anybody But Conservative” campaign waged against Harper by Premier Danny Williams.

Frenette said Shea comes from a fishing community and her experience as a provincial MLA and cabinet minister have given her a good appreciation for the problems facing the industry. Shea served in the cabinet of former Conservative premier Pat Binns, first as minister of community and cultural affairs and then as transportation and public works minister.