FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 1998
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) spent the last several days continuing to press for a solution to the fishing regulations dispute between the U.S. resort owners at the Northwest Angle on Lake of the Woods and the Canadian government in Ontario.
"Over the weekend I met with officials from the Canadian federal government at the annual U.S.-Canada Interparliamentary meeting," Peterson said. "During the Plenary session of that meeting, it was decided that a process to help resolve these issues should be established. The Honorable Brent St. Denis, MP for Algoma-Manitoulin and I were chosen to spearhead on ongoing investigation and resolution to this matter."
In addition, a delegation of Canadian government members, including the Honorable Chris Stockwell, MP and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, the Honorable David Tilson, QC, MPP for Orangeville, Ontario, and the Honorable Frank Miclash, MPP for Kenora, Ontario, met with Peterson at his office in Washington, D.C. on Monday, May 15th. At that meeting, Peterson discussed the unfair fishing regulations and asked for assistance from the Canadian legislators to get attention for this situation from Minister John Snobelen, MPC for Natural Resources.
"We discussed the fish stocks in the lake, and how we might be able to improve our cooperative management of the resource so that no one would be disadvantaged, regardless of their nationality or where they happened to be spending the night.
"I appreciate the Canadians taking time to visit with me about this issue and at this point, I am cautiously optimistic," Peterson said. "I think we made some progress, and if we keep working together, and get some help from Minister Snobelen, I think we might be able to work out a solution that would be fair for all concerned on both sides of the lake."