Calling on the province to establish secretariat responsible for wild salmon
This week we rose each day during Question Period to ask the government about what, if anything, it was doing to protect wild salmon along the coast of British Columbia. Midweek I provided an update following the question I asked.
Today we concluded our line of questioning by calling on the government to establish a secretariat responsible for wild salmon.
Below I reproduce our accompanying news release.
Media Release
B.C. Green caucus calls on province to establish secretariat responsible for wild salmon
For immediate release
March 1, 2018
VICTORIA, B.C. – The B.C. Green caucus is calling on the government to immediately establish a secretariat responsible for wild salmon. The caucus’ call comes after a week of questioning the government over its plans to protect wild salmon.
“Wild salmon are a foundational B.C. species of vital importance to our economy and to our communities,” said Adam Olsen, spokesperson for natural resources and agriculture. “The MLAs that now sit on the government side of the house are well aware of the risks facing this species, having often drawn attention to this issue when in opposition. It is time to move beyond words and take action. There is absolutely no reason to delay taking action to help restore B.C.’s wild salmon stocks to levels that support a healthy environment and a thriving wild salmon fishery.”
Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, added that the Premier’s response today strengthens the case for a secretariat: “Even the Premier acknowledges that the questions posed to his government this week demonstrate serious inter-jurisdictional and cross-ministerial challenges. As Adam argued today, secretariats have been created to respond to issues like climate change and conflict of interest. A dedicated, empowered secretariat would ensure this issue of importance to so many British Columbians, and especially coastal First Nations, is given the prioritization it deserves.”
To be effective, the secretariat responsible for wild salmon would need to granted adequate funding and authority. A wild salmon secretariat could streamline and coordinate all the work being done and stand as a united representative in negotiations with DFO.
“At present, responsibility for steelhead and wild salmon is split among six government ministries in addition to the federal Department of Fisheries,” added Sonia Furstenau, spokesperson for environment. “It has become clear that this confusing, inefficient system is not making headway on the policy changes that are needed to promote healthy levels of wild salmon stocks. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in calling for this much-needed office.”
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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca
3 Comments
The challenge ahead is to move the Province past the thinking that this is a Federal Government problem and engage our provincial and municipal levels of government into the understanding that what is good for salmon is also good for BC. Very exciting idea…..
Enough government lip service. Get on with it. It’s Fish not rocket science. Get the fish farms off the migration routes, clean up the spawning beds, get proper accounting in ALL fisheries, reduce the amount of predators in the Gulf of Georgia and put money back into enhancement or better yet follow the Alaskan model of ocean ranching.
As a life long resident of the west coast I support all initiatives which lead to a plan for our waters, whales and sea life. We are certainly at a point of no return and after at least 4 decades of the writing being on the wall but very little action, I hope that the Greens and Andrew Weaver will finally put our enviorement first in all matters pertaining to it.