The P.E.I. Fisherman’s Association is pushing back against the provincial government’s attempts to grant a sitting cabinet minister the ability to maintain his lobster fleet.

Sidney MacEwen, the Progressive Conservative MLA for Morell-Donagh and a lobster fisherman of more than 20 years, was named to Premier Rob Lantz’s cabinet last week as the minister for both the housing and transportation portfolios.

P.E.I.’s Conflict of Interest Act states that cabinet ministers must place their business assets into a blind trust during their time on executive council. Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s owner-operator policy, however, requires that MacEwen’s lobster fishing licence stay in his name.

MacEwen said he’s applied to DFO to name a substitute operator for his lobster operation, and that he has no intention of fishing this spring — but he wants to keep the fleet’s licence in his name, and said the Conflict of Interest Act should be changed to allow him to do so.

WATCH | Fishermen concerned over P.E.I. cabinet minister’s efforts to keep lobster licence in his name:

Fishermen concerned over P.E.I. cabinet minister’s efforts to keep lobster licence in his name

The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is speaking out about a provincial cabinet minister’s plans to have a substitute operator for his lobster fleet this spring. The organization is calling Sidney MacEwen’s plans troubling, and says Premier Rob Lantz should have consulted with the association. CBC’s Wayne Thibodeau reports.

Ian MacPherson, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, said in a news release Thursday that the owner-operator policy is the “cornerstone” of an independent fishery and requires that the licence holder be on the boat, fishing that licence.

He said in the release that it’s “troubling” MacEwen wants to retain his licence while not being in the boat.

MacPherson told CBC News that said he doesn’t see a cabinet position as a good enough reason for an exemption. He noted that MacEwen seems confident he’ll get one, but that the policy is supposed to be used for medical issues that temporarily prevent a licence holder from operating their fleet.

“It’s a pretty rigorous process. I’m not saying it’s a perfect process but, at the end of the day, to revise something or even look at it needs a lot of discussion,” MacPherson said.

“That’s very concerning if something can be changed that quickly.”

Lantz said in an interview earlier this week that he has “spoken to people at the highest level of the federal government” about the exemption and that he’s certain MacEwen can serve in cabinet and keep his licence.

MacPherson said he is disappointed that the association was not contacted or consulted by the premier’s office.

“We’ve always had good dialogue with the province,” he said. 

“It’s a real concern that the premier has gone on a very specific issue that hasn’t been talked about or even mentioned to the PEIFA.… Certainly there’s going to be pushback.”

If we’re going to circumvent process, then that leads to bigger issues.– Ian MacPherson, P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association

MacPherson said the issue isn’t just limited to P.E.I., but to fishermen across Atlantic Canada.

“There are some policies … that need to be updated or changed, but that’s an industry-wide thing. This is not something we can say, ‘OK, 60 days, let’s change it and let’s change it for this group of people or that group of people,’” he said. 

“We’re talking legislation, we’re talking a process. And if we’re going to circumvent process, then that leads to bigger issues and problems.”

When reached by CBC News late Thursday, MacEwen said he isn’t looking to change any rules. He said he plans to apply to DFO for a substitute operator, making the argument that his cabinet post is an “exceptional circumstance.”

CBC News has also reached out to DFO, which said it’s working on our request for more information.