N.L. budget postponed amid rowdy protest of fish harvesters at Confederation Building
CBC
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial budget will not be unveiled on Wednesday, after fish harvesters swarmed Confederation Building as part of an ongoing protest over fishery regulations.
The decision was made after protesters blocked entrances to the building, refused to let government workers inside and had physical confrontations with police officers and horses. A protester complaining of leg pain and a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer have been taken from the scene in an ambulance.
CBC News reporters at the scene witnessed an intense exchange between a group of protesters and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary around 8:30 a.m. NT, with officers pushing them back from an entrance at the rear of the building.
Video from the scene shows public servants struggling to get through the melee and get to work. At one point, Meghan McCabe, director of communications for Premier Andrew Furey, tried to get through the crowd but was pushed back by a pair of irate protesters hurling expletives.
"Get back. Don't be stupid," one yelled as McCabe walked backward away from them.
Protesters pleaded with police to not let the public servants inside.
"If you're going to let them in, you're only going to cause trouble for yourselves. And that we will guarantee," said one protester to an officer.
In a statement, provincial government spokesperson Victoria Barbour said they are "respectfully" asking the fish harvesters to allow employees, media and guests into the building "so budget 2024 can be delivered as planned."
The hundreds of protesters are fish harvesters and supporters, who have been lobbying government to open markets to outside buyers since early March.
As it stands, they can sell their catches only to buyers inside the province at a price agreed upon by the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union and the Association of Seafood Producers.
The chaotic scene began before sunrise, when Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers on horseback pushed back protesters as they moved toward the building around 6:30 a.m. NT.
"Stay back!" police yelled at the group.
"Is this a public building?" one responded. "Don't we pay for this building?"
Protesters have vowed to stay there all day.
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