$5M in federal help for iced-in fish harvesters, but FFAW says plant workers left out

A Liberal member of Parliament says the federal government has allocated up to $5 million to help fish harvesters who are stuck in port because of heavy ice.

Gudie Hutchings, MP for Long Range Mountains, said Friday the money will come under the Ice Assistance Emergency Program for eligible applicants in Newfoundland and Labrador and in Quebec.

Some fishermen have been without income for more than two months, as ice socked in the coastline.

Earlier this week, five boats became stuck in heavy ice near La Scie, causing one of the vessels to sink.

• Crew airlifted from stuck fishing vessel Avalon Princess, taking on water near La Scie

People in the area said fishing crews are desperate and the crab season in particular is slipping by.

"I thank Minister [of Fisheries and Oceans] Dominic LeBlanc for listening and acting upon every fisher's concerns as quickly as possible," Hutchings wrote in a post on Instagramlate Friday afternoon.

• Trapped inTwillingate: Iced-in crab fishermen need compensation,FFAWsays

Employment insurance for fish harvesters ran out in April.

FFAW: Plant workers left out

But the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) says the financial help leaves many affected people without any financial help.

"Plant workers have been just as impacted by severe ice delays as fish harvesters. Leaving these people out of the income bridging program is unacceptable," said FFAW president Keith Sullivan in a news release Friday evening.

Trudy Byrne, a plant workeron the Northern Peninsula,said last yearplant operations began in April.

"Harvesters can't get out in a boat to fish and they are now getting support from the government. We can't go to work because the harvesters can't get out in boat we're in the same situation here," Byrnesaid in the statement released by theunion.

"It's unbelievable to me that they're being provided support while we're being left to starve."

The FFAW said a committee representing plant workers from around the province "will request an urgent meeting with Premier Dwight Ball to call on the province for support."