By Andy Walker
Changes to the licencing policy for the Atlantic Canada and Quebec inshore fishery will allow for the issuing of licences to wholly owned companies.
Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea announced the changes during an address to the recent annual meeting of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. The new policy, which goes into effect April 1, will allow fishermen to request their licence be reissued to their wholly-owned company.
"Our Government is committed to building a foundation of economic strength for Atlantic Canada and Quebec's coastal communities by providing the inshore fleet with more flexibility in their financial dealings,” the minister said. “At the same time, we are committed to preserving the independence of individual inshore fishers.
The new policy on issuing licences to companies was developed following extensive consultations with industry members and with tax, legal and financial experts. She said it is consistent with the federal government’s policy on Preserving the Independence of the Inshore Fleet in Canada's Atlantic Fisheries.
It supports an independent and economically viable inshore fleet, responds to the needs identified by fishers, and respects the long-standing owner-operator and fleet separation policies at the foundation of Eastern Canada's inshore fishery.
Eligible licence holders are invited to apply, on a voluntary basis, to have all or some of their eligible licences re-issued to their wholly-owned company through Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Licensing Service Centres. The following documentation must be provided in an application for re-issuance of a licence:
1) A copy of the “Certificate of Incorporation” showing the registration number and the official name of the company.
2) Certification by legal counsel or a registered professional accountant verifying that all voting and non-voting shares of the company are issued to, and controlled by, the Independent Core licence holder.
3) A declaration signed by the 100% shareholder (independent core licence holder) as a corporate officer indicating that the company has not entered into a controlling agreement as defined by Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s policy on Preserving the Independence of the Inshore Fleet in Canada’s Atlantic Fisheries (PIIFCAF).
A Core Enterprise is a fishing unit composed of a fish harvester (head of enterprise), registered vessel(s) and the licenses he or she holds, and which has been designated as such under the approved criteria as outlined in Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s policy on PIIFCAF
Eligibility criteria and information about the re-issuance process will be sent to independent core licence holders and are also available on the DFO website at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
