Trudeau Liberals keep breaking promises to BC’s salmon farmers
Federal Government delays transition plan for salmon farmers in yet another broken pledge to the aquaculture sector that supports thousands of families in British Columbia
By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews
When it comes to salmon farming in the waters of British Columbia, the Federal Government seems unable to keep its promises.
First, the Trudeau Liberals walked back on the vow to make decisions based on science, when they announced their intention to ban ocean-based salmon farms in BC after 2029.
This proposed ban flies in the face of 10 government studies and a plethora of other research which continue to show that current ocean salmon farms pose no more than minimal risk to wild Pacific stocks.
Then the Liberals, bowing to anti-fish farm activists, reneged on their pledge to respect traditional rights and reconciliation with First Nations in its approach to salmon farming in BC.
The Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship, which is fighting to retain traditional rights to farm fish, described this as “a return to paternalistic policies where Ottawa dictates how Indigenous peoples should manage resources in their traditional territories.”
Now Ottawa, which has been promising a Transition Plan for the sector by July 31, 2024, has told stakeholders that the plan is not ready and likely will only be presented in September.
“When it comes to salmon farming in BC, you simply can’t trust this government,” said an industry official, who expressed his frustration at the transition plan being delayed.
“The Trudeau Liberals legacy of broken promises to our sector has imperiled thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in much needed investment,” he said.
“It’s infuriating to see the Trudeau Liberals keep breaking their promises all to get votes from urban activists in big city ridings at the expense of our aquaculture sector, First Nations and coastal communities.”
When announcing the proposed ban in June, Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier had promised a transition to plan for the sector by the end of July, which will involve moving the open-net farms to close-containment facilities in-water and on-land.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in an email to SeaWestNews said First Nations and stakeholders have been made aware of the transition plan delay and that the Government of Canada remains committed to releasing the draft plan as soon as possible.
“Implementing this transition is a whole-of-government effort that the Government of Canada takes very seriously. We are dedicated to engaging with First Nations and industry stakeholders throughout the process to ensure that the transition plan is effective and supports sustainability and reconciliation,” DFO said.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) said it is disappointed and concerned to learn of the delay.
“The rural coastal communities and employees who rely on salmon farming have been in a constant state of uncertainty since 2019 when the transition commitment was first announced,” said Brian Kingzett, Executive Director of the BCSFA.
He said the unrealistic timeline for full transition announced on June 19, 2024, undermines the federal government’s commitment to science-based decision-making, restoration of wild salmon populations, support for UNDRIP and rural coastal communities, growth of Canada’s Blue Economy, increased food security, and support for young Canadians.
“The ongoing delays and decisions made by the federal government continue to cause concern and stress on these families and communities as they do not know what the future holds for them.”
“Our sector has worked tirelessly over the past few years and submitted thousands of pages of documentation to the federal government to show our commitment to this process. The federal government knew that the five-year timeline to transition to closed containment or land-based was unrealistic, and the delay in releasing the draft Transition Framework will further inhibit our sector’s ability to meet the already demanding timeline set by DFO,” said Kingzett.
“Despite this ongoing challenge, the sector will persist in fighting for its communities and finding a responsible, realistic, and achievable path forward.”
BC salmon farmers generate over $1.142 billion of direct economic activity annually supporting over 6,000 jobs mainly in the provinces coastal indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
The Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship, said salmon farming in BC directly and indirectly employs over 700 Indigenous people and provides $120 million in total annual economic benefits to First Nations, with $42 million going directly to Indigenous communities.
Today, 100 per cent of BC’s farmed salmon is raised in agreement with Rights Holder First Nations.
(Facebook image shows Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with his Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier at an event in Vancouver)