With a week to go before the BC election, the NDP leader Adrian Dix has made a late plea to the wild salmon people to secure their vote.
"Protecting and enhancing wild salmon is a top priority for me," writes Dix echoeing the sentiment of late NDP leader Jack Layton before Canada's federal election in 2011. "I firmly support the moratorium on new fish farms on
the north coast," he continued re-hashing a Government policy in place since 2008!
"I am also encouraged by the steps taken by
the ‘Namgis First Nation near Port McNeill on developing closed
containment salmon farms," said Dix who did not mention the fact that the closed containment facility has recently tested positive for a deadly virus.
Read Adrian Dix's statement in full below:
Read more via "Time for Dix to Nix Salmon Feedlots" and "The NDP's Salmon Sell Out – Money Talks, Adrian Dix Doesn't!"
The statement from NDP leader Adrian Dix is almost a carbon copy of the statement provided by the NDP's MLA for North Island (Claire Trevena) in an interview with the Campbell River Mirror last month (30 April):
Shamefully, however, the NDP's current position is a reversal of previous NDP policy on salmon farming. Alexandra Morton wrote in her blog last month (27 April):
Read more via "NDP salmon feedlot policy – Impractical – in-fact Impossible"
Meanwhile, yet another NDP candidate broke ranks from the NDP leadership's watered-down policy on salmon farming. Joe Trasolini, the NDP candidate for Port Moody-Coquitlam, spoke up for wild salmon following the screening of 'Salmon Confidential' on Sunday (5 May):
"Let me tell you that I will bring the message that it is the beginning of the fight," said Joe Trasolini. "If I take something on I take it to the end."
For many voters the end of salmon farming is the ultimate goal.
"Stop Salmon Farming" is the simple message to the Federal Government and to the Provincial Government.
Photo: Brigette DePape & Twyla Roscovich
It is time to stop talking about protecting wild salmon and start removing disease-ridden feedlots.
Photo: Alexandra Morton & Brigette DePape
However, the only party currently advocating the removal of salmon feedlots is the Green Party.
Whilst the NDP leadership dilly-dallies, the Green Party's position is crystal clear. In a press release issued last month (20 April), Green Party leader Jane Sterk said:
"The dramatic decline of BC’s wild salmon began when fish farms were
introduced. Wild salmon cannot be saved until open net fish farms are
removed from migration routes, because of their deadly role in spreading
disease and parasites"
Read more via "Is the NDP the Liberal Party in disguise? Go Green for Wild Salmon!"
Go Green for wild salmon!
As well as the Greens, the Independent MLA Vicki Huntington (Delta South) is willing to stand up for wild salmon by advocating a removal of salmon feedlots.
Make sure you vote for wild salmon on 14 May!
