Staff of the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development will begin working out of their new office in Montague Monday.
Construction of the new building on Main Street across from the post office has been completed and furniture, equipment and supplies are being moved in.
The relocation of the department was announced in the 2008 throne speech.
Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Neil LeClair said the move is a further demonstration of the commitment of the provincial government to rural Prince Edward Island.
As a result of the relocation, 32 staff are making the move to Montague. They include the offices of the minister and deputy minister, the Marine Fisheries and Seafood Services, Aquaculture and Rural Development divisions, along with the administration of Access P.E.I. and the headquarters of the Employment Development Agency.
The 9,161-square-foot building was constructed by K&S Development and is leased by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. The building incorporates a number of energy-efficient features and complements the downtown streetscape. The building was acquired through a competitive tender process.
LeClair said the department serves rural residents through its work with fishers, aquaculturalists and rural communities and the provision of services by Access P.E.I. throughout the province.
"The relocation of the department to Montague will better enable us to bring a rural perspective to government policies and programs," the minister said.
LeClair said the department will maintain a satellite office in Charlottetown for meetings with industry groups and other departments and agencies.
Employment Development Agency and seasonal hiring applications can be obtained or dropped off at the fifth floor of the Jones Building on Kent Street in Charlottetown or at Access P.E.I. sites across the province.
The new telephone number at the Montague office is 902-838-0910. Clients outside the Montague exchange can call toll-free to 1-877-407-0187.
The department is planning an open house in February.
Department staff begins work in Montague Monday
Department staff begins work in Montague Monday
- Published on January 15th, 2010
- Published on June 15th, 2010
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Staff ~ Farm Focus
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Comments
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- Getting old....
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:27:22
250,000...wow...Cooper and Smith Consulting are laughing all the way to the bank with this deal....could they not have used the old building right up the street (EI OFfice) that the gov't paid them for 20 times over??
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- what a waste of
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:24:52
What a waste of money! The thousands of urban poor without transportation can now hitch hike to Montague to deal with the Employment Development Agency. The money wasted every day, paying for the milage costs to public employees, could buy drugs for those in need or housing for the disabled or heating costs for the freezing seniors , etc., etc. This Ghiz government sure has clear and disappointing priorities. They do not include the poor or ordinary working Islander. I'll be glad to get rid of them.
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- fisherperson
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:15:26
To Come on Now:-
I must say that the provincial Dept. of Fisheries are very dedicated and work very hard for the province. The staff is highly educated and have lots of experience in fisheries. Not many fisherman on PEI have a bad word for this Dept.
Now Federal Fisheries is a different story!! -
- Spoilsofwar
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:08:50
I want more, I deserve more, and I'm going to get more...BUHAHAHAHA
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- Spoilsofwar
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:08:47
Fisherperson from PEI does not speak for fishermen. The provincial department is famous for propping up PRIVATE processors who in fact are only peddlers and are famous for ignoring recommendations from those who know the industry best, FISHERMEN.
No one in this grand new office is going to enjoy working there as they will soon be forced to deal with fishermen FACE to FACE instead of playing phone tag all day.
There are three government members sitting on there hands who have direct links to the industry but still the front line is ignored.
I don't believe for a second that Fisherperson from PEI actually fishes. He/she stinks of bureaucrat.The majority of fishermen are aware of the inaction of government. Programs such as that of the aid to new entrants flies in the face of all efforts by fishermen to reduce fishing efforts through federal buybacks to ensure a sustainable fishery. -
- To To spoilsofwar
- - June 21st, 2010 at 20:01:44
Are you pathelogically stupid?
In Ontario mining companies can come in and take your home simply because they want to look to see if there is anything on your land they might want. When a fisherman can take your house so he has a place to build a bait shed, then you might have a point.
Then there is oil, and Bay Street, and the auto industry, and any company from the US.
So when did Fishermen get ahead of all of them? Do you know something no one else knows or are you one of those people can't ever come up with a more constructive aregument than 'You suck!'? -
- Come on now..
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:47:40
I wouldn't say the start work more like show up for work
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- To
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:41:54
BOO HOO HOO sob. I only work 2 months a year and can barely afford a $65,000 truck. Stop whinning ! There is no special interest group in this province or country that are more catered to by govt than fishers. I would like to know what the heck makes you think that society owes you a living fishing ! Prices are too low boo hoo hoo catches are too low boo hoo hoo If you can't make a living fishing than don't fn fish !!!! By the way the politians didn't take the fish out of the water , you did, so lie in the bed you have made !!!
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- OLd Tory
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:36:35
Yes and now Ghiz has the gall to whine to Gail Shea that he wants more transfer payments after this nice big juicy lease for 15 years at $250,000. per year right into the pocket of a big liberal supporter. Thye people being dragged out there from Charlottetown don't even want to be there.
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- Goodnews
- - June 21st, 2010 at 19:34:02
Hello...its not just fisher persons that will be seeing the benefits...there is also aquaculture and RURAL development, as well as employement development agency. Good for Montague!!!!
