Ottawa - For the second time in a week, an opposition party has turned their back to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. This time Liberal Senator for Ontario, Mac Harb, has spoken out against the seal hunt. He claims the Harper Government is ignoring international boycotts and that the industry is “clinically dead.”

"Senator Harb could not be more wrong. The only thing our government is going to ignore is the propaganda coming from the anti-sealing lobbyists here at home, and in Hollywood and New York," said Peter Penashue, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador. "If Liberal Senator Harb and NDP MP Ryan Cleary would pause to listen to the industry long enough, they would hear that the market is viable and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians want to continue this traditional way of life."

To continue to show the Government’s support, today is Seal Day on the Hill in Ottawa. It is a designated day at Parliament where all MP's are encouraged to wear a seal skin pin to display support for this proud Canadian industry.

Recently NDP MP Ryan Cleary was quoted in VOCM news articles saying “they were never informed of the event (Seal Day on the Hill).”

Yet, MP Cleary was quoted in an article in The Telegram saying “They can have all the rallies they want on Parliament Hill “ and that he wouldn’t be attending Seal Day on the Hill.

"Once again MP Cleary says one thing, and does another. Today we're celebrating the seal industry at Parliament and I encourage MP Cleary and Senator Harb to do the right thing, take back their destructive comments, admit they are wrong, stop pushing the anti-sealing agenda and stand with industry and all of Newfoundland and Labrador. These two opposition parties should stop siding with lobbyists who oppose this way of life, and join our Government to stand with Canadian sealers, " Penashue said.