Ocean Choice not meeting obligations: Ghiz

Ocean Choice, P.E.I.'s largest lobster processor, is not meeting its obligations to the provincial government by choosing not to open this spring, says Premier Robert Ghiz.

The company announced Monday it was putting its plant in Souris up for sale, and would not open for the spring fishery on May 2.

In a statement released Wednesday, Ocean Choice chief operating officer Blaine Sullivan said the company wants to focus more on lobster marketing, rather than processing. He also criticized the province's attacks on the company, saying it made the company look anti-business, and makes selling the plant more difficult.

Ghiz told CBC News he's not surprised at the company's latest statements.

"They shut down the plant themselves. It was their decision like we've indicated all along. Two, they were asking for more money, which we were not willing to put up and three, they still owe the taxpayers of Prince Edward Island [$]9.75 million," he said.

The money owed is from the a deal in 2004, when Ocean Choice purchased the assets of the bankrupt companyPolar Foods from the province.

"We have a contract in place that states that they still owe us $9.75 million to fulfill the contract and we expect them to live up to those obligations," said Ghiz.

"By them not opening this year, obviously they're not living up to those obligations."

About 300 people worked at the plant, which was one of the biggest employers in Souris.