Trudeau’s rhetoric falls flat at rally to support BC’s salmon farmers

Rally in Nanaimo calls on Federal Government to deliver on its promise for a “realistic, responsible, and achievable” transition plan for BC’s salmon farming sector

By SeaWestNews

Over 200 people from British Columbia’s salmon aquaculture sector rallied in downtown Nanaimo yesterday, demanding the Trudeau government align its political rhetoric with the harsh realities they face.

The demonstration coincided with the Liberal Party’s caucus retreat in the Vancouver Island city, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized his commitment to “investing in Canadians.”

Speaking at the retreat, Trudeau stated, “Confident countries invest in their workers, invest in their people, and invest in the future—and that’s exactly what we’re going to keep doing.”

Yet, for the fish farmers, their suppliers, First Nations and United Steelworkers Union members at the rally, Trudeau’s message rang hollow.

They had gathered in defense of BC’s salmon farming industry, which supports more than 6,000 jobs, primarily in coastal Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and generates over $1.142 billion annually in direct economic activity.

At the heart of the rally was a call for the federal government to deliver on its promises for a “realistic, responsible, and achievable” transition plan for the salmon farming sector, as opposed to an industry shutdown that threatens livelihoods.

The rally emphasized the critical role that salmon farming plays in Canada’s coastal and national economies, as the gathering urged the federal government to reconsider its ban on open-net salmon aquaculture after 2029 in the province.

The June announcement of the ban—largely seen as a political move to placate anti-fish farming activists in exchange for their votes —was made despite scientific evidence from the government’s own experts that the ocean-based salmon farms pose no more than minimal risk to wild Pacific stocks.

Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier has promised a transition plan for the sector, which will involve moving the open-net farms to close-containment facilities in water and on-land.

But industry leaders, First Nations groups and aquaculture experts argue that the transition timeline is impractical, economically ruinous, and ignores the realities of close-containment technologies.

“I don’t know what we’d do without salmon farming,” said Marc Peeler, owner of Confidence Fishing Company.

“My crew, all we wanted to do was be salmon fishermen. Due to so many factors like climate change, that isn’t an option for us. We couldn’t afford to be fisherman, but working as a supplier in salmon farming allows to us use our skill sets in this industry and have jobs that we love and make us feel proud,” he said.

Shelley Siemens, business agent with United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, expressed frustration over the government’s failure to produce a detailed transition plan.

“Shutting down an industry and forcing people out of work without providing a jobs plan—after promising us a transition—has left workers in limbo,” she said.

The pressure on BC’s aquaculture industry is already being felt.

Mia Parker, spokesperson for Mowi Canada West, the region’s largest salmon farming company, noted that recent government policies have led to a dramatic reduction of over 40% in BC’s farmed salmon production. This decline has cost thousands of jobs and has had far-reaching impacts on coastal families and businesses, she said.

Ryan Brush, representing Aquatrans Distributors Inc., described the toll government decisions have taken on small businesses.

“Our ability to support jobs—whether for truck drivers, warehouse workers, or other small businesses—is directly impacted by the government’s actions to curtail salmon farming,” he said.

The uncertainty in BC’s salmon farming future is also worrying larger corporations like Skretting North America, the continent’s largest salmon feed supplier.

Trevor Stanley, Managing Director of Skretting, warned that without longer-term licenses and clearer guidelines, investor confidence in BC’s aquaculture industry will continue to dwindle.

“A lack of confidence results in reduced spending on ingredients and services from our Canadian suppliers. Ultimately, we may be forced to explore opportunities in other, more progressive aquaculture sectors,” he said.

Diane Morrison, Managing Director of Mowi Canada West, called on the government to start paying attention to the voices of those who depend on salmon farming.

“I’m incredibly proud of how our communities have united in support of this sector. Now we hope the politicians will listen to what the people are saying,” she said.

(Image shows some of the 200 people involved in British Columbia’s aquaculture sector at a rally in downtown Nanaimo)