2014 NLOA President’s Report
Opening Remarks:
To begin, and prior to getting into the report, it is very important that I first express much appreciation for any support membership have given to myself as President, the Board, and our valued office staff. I personally want to express appreciation to those who were willing to serve our industry association this year, whether it was in a Board Capacity, Committee Chairs, and/or Representatives. In terms of our staffing your efforts ought to be applauded and we appreciate you working so diligently on the affairs of our association and in support of our membership.
The Report
In respectfully writing this report and reflecting upon year 2014, the overriding theme this year in my mind, has been “Change”.
First, within our organization we have had to say good bye to very valued staff members in our office administrator Debbie Taylor, and our Executive Director over the last four years, Keith Payne. It is obvious we were very sorry to lose such wonderful staff, but the transition to new very capable staff has been great, largely due to the graciousness of both Keith and Debbie in ensuring this transition was as seamless as possible. (Please note, I will have more to say regarding staffing further within the report).
Secondly, within government there were several ministerial changes. In actually there were four Tourism ministers and two Environment & Conservation ministers. I’m sure government had reasons for the unprecedented ministerial changes, yet it is not difficult to conclude this has not been helpful to an Industry Association such as the NLOA, nor officials within government whom we strive to work closely with in advancing our initiatives and/or raising the profile of our concerns. These changes seem to be magnified especially since year 2013 was very chaotic, and some focus and capacity was lost within government due to budget cutbacks and ultimately layoffs, which certainly impacted NLOA’s efforts.
Thirdly, on September 30, 2014 there was a merging of two key government departments in which the NLOA routinely are engaged. As you probably know, the Dept. of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development is now the newly formed Dept. of Business, Tourism, Culture, and Rural Development. Undoubtedly, with such a merging there are many internal things to be worked out in terms of what is the process, who is responsible for what, and has responsibilities been changed.
I believe as members, you would agree in times of dramatic change it takes increased effort to ensure our objectives are not stymied, stalled, nor lost, which is an ongoing concern of the Board and Staff. I must convey that the dramaticchanges over the last two years has not been helpful in advancing our fundamental initiatives such as a ConservationLevy, License Transfer System, and the Lowering of the YouthHuntingAge.Furthermore, changes has made it more difficult in raising the profile regarding the Natural Resources that our Industry is dependent upon.
In looking forward, the overriding message to you our valued membership would be there are many influences and situations we cannot control, but yet there are others we have the capability and capacity to control, therefore, it is very important we “empower” ourselves to collectively do so. Personally, I feel it is time as members and as an Industry Association to take control of what we can. We cannot simply rely on government all the time. At this point you may be asking how can we “empower” ourselves, which would be a good discussion item.
As an example, membership must collectively be engaged on issues of importance to us as an Industry, and take time to have input in concert with the input from your Industry Association. This would certainly give more strength in leveraging a positive outcome to our Industry issues and initiatives.
As you are well aware, the NLOA in recent years have strived hard to create a predictable and sufficient revenue Stream for the purpose of giving us more capacity as an Industry Association to provide greater service and value to membership. This is the reason much work has been put into trying to implement a Conservation Levy Program. Upon selling this to membership and obtaining a high level of support, we put it in the hands of government, which has been a very slow process indeed.
Could it be time, for membership to take control and empower ourselves to have adequate financial capabilities, by collectively co-operating? We certainly have the ability to do so.
Members, I am sure we have all heard the saying, “there is power in numbers”, to which I am pleased to report our membership is at historical highs with 106 members. There is amazing capacity within our membership and organization which is largely untapped. To that end I would ask membership to givesincere thought how we can collectively contribute to advancement of our goals.
The following is a brief outline of some of NLOA’s activity in 2014.
Three Year Marketing Plan
First, it is important that we recognize the incredible support and contribution of our funding partners to enable the NLOA to have such a plan. In 2014, we have entered into the second year of the plan, which required more contribution from the NLOA. This was somewhat of a concern, but with co-operation amongst partners, our second year again has been a success.
Highlights in 2014, are things such as three more fishing shows developed through New Fly Fisher, and three more hunting shows through Woods and Waters. Although this is the second year of the marketing plan, we have been partnering with NFF for five years, and Woods and Waters for four years. Other items of interest isColin McKeown of NFF has been doing presentations at Fly Fishing Clubs, which is a cheap way to attract customers to our destination. Additionally, both Colin and Peter Fiduccia of Woods and Waters has had a presence at sportsman shows.In terms of Europe, there are plans in place to re-visit a show in Germany in early 2015.
New Website
As stated in earlier reports, Spark Interactive was the preferred bidder to develop NLOA’s new website. I am extremely pleased to report the new NLOA website is up and running. The website will certainly do wonders to improve our image and to better serve our membership, partners, sponsors etc. To date there has been very positive feedback and to that end on behalf of the Board and I’m sure our membership we wish to express much appreciation to Keith and Debbie (former staff) for the tremendous amount of work and diligence (patience) throughout this process. Also, we are very grateful to our funding partners, whom has been so supportive in this regard and other NLOA initiatives.
Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Project
This pilot project was a joint venture of IBRD, TCR, and NLOA. BR&E is based on an internationally recognized economic development tool that helps identify and address barriers to survival and growth within existing business, such as outfitting operations. BR&E’s objective is to help make businesses more competitive, by addressing operational needs and concerns. Key areas of focus are marketing and sales, operation, finances and accounting, human resources, management, and succession planning.
Upon soliciting participation from outfitters (17 participated), and 14 have completed. Given the professional help and guidance offered through the program, those who participated will surely have major tools to strengthen their operations. In terms of the NLOA, we are keen to see a report deriving common themes, operators are facing, in our industry, which will surely help guide us in offering our members pertinent workshops etc. Additionally we are hopeful to expand project to other operators, especially once reports and feedback is obtained, and the merits of project are fully realized.
Labrador – Island Transmission Link Project
The Labrador-Island Transmission link project is proving to be of tremendous concern, for both our fishing operators in Labrador and many of our inland hunting operations. As you know, this project is very extensive, and I must add from NLOAs perspective Nalcor’s submissions in relation to potential impacts on outfitters and mitigation measures to date has not given us high level of comfort.
Note:Some of the following information was provided in my 2013 report, but felt it would help if provided again in a chronological format in conjunction with continued workings in 2014.
I think all members would agree there are major concerns within the outfitting industry regarding the potential impacts this project (1100 KM transmission line) will have on the outfitting industry and the resources it depends on. Since year 2011, the NLOA has invested much time and financial resources addressing this issue. The NLOA initially submitted three reports on behalf of the outfitting industry. A report on the EIS treatment of the Socio-economic impact of the project was completed by the consulting firm Outspan Group Inc., A report on the EIS treatment of the impact of the project on caribou, moose, blk bear, and vegetation by Yolanda Wiersman, and a report by the NLOA on the deficiencies of the EIS as it relates to the outfitting industry, by Keith Payne. In addition to consultants being hired, there has been consultation with outfitters, government, Nalcor and Emera.
Throughout this process we have found written submissions by Nalcor to be very dismissive regarding outfitting concerns and have down played potential impacts. In June of 2012 the NLOA provided a response to “Nalcor Energy Labrador-Island Transmission line environmental Impact statement” (EIS). Subsequent to the original EIS, Nalcor produced a “Labrador-Island transmission line Environmental Impact Statement addendum”. Unfortunately the addendum did not address any of the concerns of the NLOA in its original response to the original EIS.
Subsequently, in January 2013 the NLOA provided another response, to Nalcors addendum. Our response clearly stated, NLOA felt it is the responsibility of the proponent to work with the outfitting industry and the affected outfitters in order to adequately understand and quantify the potential negative economic effects of the project. Only then can the appropriate mitigation be determined, and in cases where no mitigation was possible, our contention was there must be adequate compensation.
On June 21st, 2013, Minister Hedderson, Minister responsible for Environment and Conservation announced through an Environment Assessment bulletin, that the Labrador-Island transmission line project has been released from further environment assessment, subject to some terms and conditions. Specific terms and conditions were laid out for Emera Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nalcor Energy. We are very pleased to report some of the conditions stated were directly tied to outfitting, or values important to outfitting. As an example the following is one of the conditions in which the NLOA is very pleased about;
“The proponent, in consultation with the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association and Outfitters who may potentially be impacted by the L-ITL project, will develop monitoring plan related to the potential impacts of the Project on these outfitters. Should direct impacts be identified, the proponent shall work with the affected outfitters and the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association to develop reasonable compensation provisions. In areas with new project access, the proponent will also design and implement an Access Decommissioning Plan to mitigate diminished outfitting success rates.”
We are extremely pleased the Minister has mentioned “reasonable compensation” should direct impacts be identified, especially since government rarely is willing to talk about compensation. We would suggest outfitters take time to familiarize themselves with the terms and condition outlaid in the Environmental Assessment Bulletin. It is imperative, outfitters in conjunction with the NLOA work together to ensure conditions are honored, and impacts are minimized, as the project proceeds.
The NLOA has worked diligently in recent months to ensure Nalcor honors the terms laid out by Minister Hedderson when releasing the project from further environment assessment. An example of this is a L. ITL Outfitter Environment effects monitoring plan (OEEMP) was to be produced a months ago, but was not received until September when outfitters were very busy with their operations.
Subsequent to receiving the plan, we requested and received an extension to respond to OEEMP. Upon perusing the document it was very evident Nalcor understood very little about our industry, and the monitoring plan as presented offered very little comfort. Consequently, a special NLOA/concerned member meeting was held in Deer Lake on November 4th, to discuss concerns and chart our next steps. Following the meeting a letter was forwarded to Minister Darin King (Department of BTCRD) and Minister Dan Crummel, Minister of the Dept. of Environment and Conservation seeking a meeting to discuss concerns. Furthermore, a meeting was requested with Nalcor, that took place in St. John’s on November 17th, in which a sampling of very concern outfitters along with your Executive Director and myself as President attended.
The meeting seem to go well, and now we await to see revisions to the OEEMP draft upon expressing our concerns, and making concrete recommendations. On November 30th, the NLOA sent its official response to Nalcor’s OEEMP. Hopefully, this time around the OEEMP will deliver on what was promised. Upon the recent meeting and response to OEEMP, we are hopeful our message will begin to be sincerely heard, and appropriate mitigation measure will be implemented in a timely manner.
Finally, the NLOA is very cognizant of the project having severe ramifications on outfitter operations, which is why to date has put considerable time and resources into helping ensure outfitter investments, business operations are not undermined nor put in jeopardy. To be very frank and to the point, we feel Nalcor has not shown much to date to put us at ease. What has been done, Nalcor have been told to do, and furthermore has been very dismissive of our concerns.
Fishing Sector
The NLOA continues to have a strong presence at pertinent forums in relation to our sports fishing sector, such as with DFO, SCNL, aquaculture hearings etc. The Board and I’m sure membership are very appreciative toward Tony Tuck whom has professionally represented the NLOA on sport fishing related issues for several years. In Tony’s absence, Cory Foster attended the SCNL AGM in St. Johns on September 19-21st, in which Cory found to be very beneficial and informative as our new Executive Director.
In recent years there are major concerns surrounding impacts on our prized sport fishing products such as our wild Atlantic Salmon and world class Brook Trout. On the island aquaculture concerns are huge and in Labrador mega construction projects and the development of the Trans Labrador Highway are predicted to put tremendous pressure on the resource, due to population booms and overall increased traffic during all seasons. The position of the NLOA is it is imperative enforcement and monitoring of resource must not only be continued, but enhanced significantly.
In terms of aquaculture concerns, Tony put together a splendid presentation on behalf of the NLOA, and presented on May 27th to a senate committee hearing on aquaculture, that was followed up with a CBC radio interview, and a TC media interview and subsequent newspaper article. Members, it is evident the NLOA and its members must collectively become even more vigilant into the future to ensure our fish resources, are protected and secondly to enable us to continue to offer a world class sport fishing to clientele worldwide.
Big Game Resource Concerns
In this report I choose not to elaborate on big game resource concerns since they have been well documented, therefore please do not interpret as not being of great importance to your Association. Some of our concerns continue to be the George River Caribou Herd which is decimated from its population high, lack of legitimate predator control program in relation to woodland caribou calf survival, and overall moose populations and management, habitat destruction, etc. These type of issues will continue to be a large part NLOA’s advocacy work going forward.
Caribou Recovery Committee
The final meeting of the Caribou Recovery Committee took place on May 6th, in which Wayne Holloway attended upon soliciting input from outfitters. Wayne has been instrumental as NLOA’s representative on the committee and has relentlessly brought forward NLOA’s input/concerns, to which we are very appreciative.
The five year study program pertaining to the woodland caribou has been completed, and the NLOA has been anxiously asking for a strategic action plan to be implemented to help enhance calf survival rates amongst the herds. We are hopeful something encouraging will be announced soon, and if not it is imperative our membership in conjunction with NLOA advocate for a more reasonable response than essentially doing nothing. SCI has been informed of our concerns, and have been solicited to help advocate for a reasonable action plan, especially since they contributed nearly 300,000 to the study program.