CHNE produces weekly interviews with Cape Breton – Canso MP Mike Kelloway where community members can send in their questions for him. Today we talk about addressing gaps in the financial aid package for fish harvesters and about help for the tourism industry.

A local wharf worker asked whether she would be eligible for the subsidy offered to fishers, since she is also affected by the issues disrupting the sector. The federal MP said people working on the docks don't qualify for now. “We’re working right now on addressing that gap in terms on insuring that the benefits are accessible for those groups,” he said. “So, not only is it on our radar, it’s in our discussions right now. The day after the announcement … we were on the horn in my office, to talk about how great the announcement was and how beneficial it was and how it was really informed by fishers, and now we need to look at gaps within the sector and look at addressing them ASAP.”

There is another ambiguity in the financial package involving fishers, crew members and wharf staff who can’t work this season due to underlying health conditions. Would they have access to Employment Insurance (EI) in the fall?

“I’m going to double check on that one,” Kelloway said. “I think the first and foremost piece is you go on CERB for the 16 weeks. But after the 16 weeks, there may be a gap there. But we would take those on a case by case basis as well because in my mind, there is a legitimate claim claim to look at those that have underlying health conditions, can’t work because of COVID. … Until we come up with a particular policy on that, it would be one-on one, which we do quite well.” He recommended that people in that situation contact his office directly.

Other seasonal workers, like those in the tourism sector, also rely on EI. Since the pandemic threatens to give them a shorter, delayed or even cancelled season, they might not receive enough hours to qualify in the winter. No announcement has been made for them so far. 

“We’re working on that, not just for tourism operators or people that work in tourism or service sector, but in other sectoral-based work,” Kelloway said. “And that's being worked on as we speak.”