News

This article was written by Lucas McInnis and originally published by CBC on April 29th, 2026 at 6:00am ADT. We are sharing the full text here for reference. All rights remain with the original publisher.

‘This government dithered away and wasted two years of time,’ says Green leader.

P.E.I.’s Green Party leader focused his questions in the legislature Tuesday on how the Progressive Conservative government intends to help the province’s ailing oyster harvesters as two diseases, MSX and Dermo, continue to devastate their stocks.

Matt MacFarlane said it’s been two years since MSX was first detected in Bedeque Bay, and he noted that some growers are now reporting nearly 100 percent oyster mortality as they pull their cages up after the winter months.

“There is absolutely no excuse … for why government did not anticipate back in 2024 that by this season oyster fishers, growers and processors will be exactly where we are today — without an income and in desperate need of support,” MacFarlane said during question period.

He described the fishers’ losses as “devastating,” and said there will be a financial impact felt by the entire province.

“It’s very clearly in the public interest that the sector be fully supported,” MacFarlane said, directing his question to Premier Rob Lantz.

“It is obvious that you can count on this side of the House coming together with you if you were to announce supports today for the fishers and the processors and the growers in this industry. Why haven’t you committed to that?”

P.E.I. Fisheries Minister Ernie Hudson responded instead, saying he tabled information last week in the legislature about provincial programs to help mitigate the oyster harvesters’ losses. He said the province’s contingency fund for the industry has nearly doubled this year to $6 million, and 54 applications have already been approved.

But Hudson said the government needs federal help to fix the oyster crisis, too.

“This is an industry that is extremely important,” Hudson said. “It’s an industry that we collectively have to work for and that we collectively have to work together for.”

MacFarlane said the industry needs the province “to come to the table” because the situation this season doesn’t bode well for the immediate future.

“There’s going to be a lot of hard times coming in the future with what’s coming up out of the water,” he said.

“Why are we sitting here today with oyster fishers, growers and processors left hanging by a provincial government that has been woefully unprepared for what was known two years ago would be a disaster today?”

‘It’s going to be painful’

Lantz said the province has contributed millions in funding and is continuing to work with the oyster industry to help it recover and rebuild.

During his recent trip Ottawa, the premier said, he was briefed about how federal officials intend to help the industry through research, analysis and monitoring.

“The provincial government has been focused on mitigating the risks and compensation to the people in the industry and retraining,” Lantz said.

“We will continue to evolve our model of working with the industry, but there is no question this government is committed to getting the industry through this crisis, coming out better on the other side. It’s going to be painful.”

MacFarlane said the diseases — neither of which have any known cure but are harmless to humans — are “going to be more than painful” for those in the industry.

“We knew cages would be coming up dead, and that’s what’s happening right now as this government dithered away and wasted two years of time,” MacFarlane said.

He pointed to previous comments the Progressive Conservative government made in the legislature about $16 million in support for the industry, and requested documents be tabled to support that claim.

“How much of that money has actually made its way into the hands of Island oyster fishers, growers and processors?” MacFarlane asked.

In response, Hudson listed a number of programs that are in place to help fishers.

The minister, who’s also the MLA for Alberton-Bloomfield, said he lives “in the heart of the oyster growing sector” and pledged that the government will continue to work with fishers to solve the issues.

“Do I have it in my heart? Absolutely,” Hudson said.

“Will I continue to advocate, lobby for the federal government in addition to the various supports that the premier has alluded to … that will put dollars right into the pockets of our oyster fishes? Yes, I will continue to do that and I’ll make no apologies for doing it, either.”

Source: CBC News. The original article found here.