As Mark Carney becomes Canada’s new Prime Minister, B.C.’s embattled salmon farmers, their First Nations partners, and thousands of aquaculture workers wait to see if his promises of unity and economic pragmatism will extend to them.
Commentary
By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews
Mark Carney’s debut as leader of the Liberal Party has ignited political debate across Canada, fueled by his pointed remarks on division and the urgent need for unity to strengthen the nation’s resilience.
Drawing on his international banking expertise and climate advocacy, Carney has long championed sustainable finance as the foundation of long-term economic stability, a stance that has propelled him to become Canada’s next Prime Minister.
In his victory speech, delivered amid a growing trade war with the U.S., Carney, sent a sharp message:
“Division won’t win a trade war. Division won’t pay the rent or the mortgage. Division won’t bring down the price of groceries. Division won’t make Canada strong.”
He also emphasized Canada’s commitment to respecting First Nations’ rights.
Carney may not yet realize it, but his words resonate deeply with B.C.’s salmon farming sector, which has long been the target of well-coordinated activist campaigns aimed at sowing division through misinformation, fear-mongering, and outright falsehoods.
For years, activists, some backed by foreign interests, have worked to fracture public trust, disregarding scientific evidence that proves B.C.’s salmon farming industry has minimal impact on wild stocks.
Their strategy prioritizes ideology over science, rallying an urban-based following against fishery experts and vilifying First Nations who support salmon farming.
As he assumes office, Carney inherits the fallout from years of Trudeau-era policies that prioritized appeasing the anti-fish farming lobby over supporting rural communities and Indigenous rights.
Ignoring its own fisheries scientists, Trudeau’s government has already shut down nearly 45% of the industry’s production. Now, Ottawa is pushing forward with a reckless Transition Plan that threatens to devastate B.C.’s economy, leaving taxpayers on the hook for an estimated $9 billion in compensation to salmon farmers, suppliers, and First Nations.
This activist-driven plan, which seeks to ban ocean-based salmon farming by 2029, will wipe out 4,560 jobs and impact more than 1,000 Indigenous workers in the sector, according to a recent economic analysis.
Meanwhile, over 1,400 businesses in the industry’s supply chain face losses of $437 million, with many looking at closure.
Additionally, Trump’s new tariffs will further strain B.C.’s salmon farming sector, one of the world’s most sustainable protein producers.
With 70% of B.C.’s farmed salmon exported to the U.S., a 25% tariff could slash demand by 32–40%, cutting industry revenues by $131.5–$142.4 million annually. The fallout could eliminate 1,100–1,195 jobs, deepening economic uncertainty in a province already drowning in red ink.
Policies shaped by activism, rather than science and pragmatism, have fueled unnecessary conflict, regulatory uncertainty, and a loss of investment in salmon farming, Canada’s most promising sustainable food sector.
Against this backdrop, Carney has a critical opportunity to reject division and restore trust in Canada’s seafood sector.
To do so, he must champion policies based on facts, not fear.
He must ensure Indigenous communities that support and operate salmon farms are heard, not dismissed.
And most importantly, he must hold activist groups accountable for misinformation, just as industry is expected to uphold transparency and scientific integrity.
After securing a landslide victory in the Liberal leadership race on Sunday, Carney declared: “Canadians know that new threats demand new ideas and a new plan.”
B.C.’s salmon farmers and their First Nations partners have delivered such a plan—one that could generate $2.5 billion in output, $930 million in GDP, and 9,000 jobs paying $560 million in wages by 2030—all while protecting wild salmon through innovation and responsible practices.
Carney also stated: “Now, I’m a pragmatist above all. And that means when I see something that’s not working, I’ll change it. I care about the economy, not because I am an economist, but because I care about people.”
Well, Mr. Prime Minister, B.C.’s salmon farmers, their First Nations partners, and the thousands of workers whose livelihoods hang in the balance are waiting to see if your promises of pragmatism and economic growth apply to them.
Or if they will be left behind—just as they were by your predecessor—casualties of political expediency?
(Main image shows Mark Carney, who will be Canada’s 24th prime minister)