NDP leader Adrian Dix is coming under increasing pressure from within his own party to nix disease-ridden salmon farms. North Shore News reported (5 May) how the NDP's candidate (Ana Santos) in the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding is committed to removing harmful salmon farms:
"Santos said the NDP has committed to removing salmon farms on harmful routes, and has seen first-hand the negative effects of fish farms. "Their impact is incredible; I don't need to be convinced," she said.
Santos made her views clear on Facebook late last week:
The NDP's Nicholas Simons – the incumbent MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast – broke ranks at the all-candidates meeting last week. The Coast Reporter reported (3 May):
"Simons drew the first applause of the evening in responding to a question about protecting wild salmon. “With the salmon farm circumstances, we know that there is enough science to tell us that the migratory routes should be free of fish farms because of the danger they pose,” he said.
Dix has a ready-made solution to the salmon problem – remove lice-infested feedlots NOW!
Use your head Adrian and nix salmon feedlots now before infectious diseases and sea lice infestation kill off all BC's wild salmon!
Back in 2011, during the NDP leadership race, Nicholas Simons made his opposition to the Norwegian-owned salmon farming industry clear. When asked "If you were a salmon, what species would you be?" he told The Globe & Mail: "I wouldn't be farmed salmon."
Santos & Simons were joined by the NDP candidate for Parksville-Qualicum (Barry Avis) who posted on Facebook last week:
The message to the NDP leadership is crystal clear – nix disease-ridden salmon feedlots!
In March, the NDP MLA Rob Fleming also spoke out against salmon farming saying the NDP would look into banning feedlots. Alexandra Morton reported in her blog last month (27 April):
The Vancouver Sun reported (22 March):
The Tyee explained last week (3 May):
Morton said the fish-farm issue is increasing in importance in the provincial election. "The NDP has put out conflicting statements," she said. "First they said they might ban the farms, but then they issued a much softer statement." (The NDP website has little to say about the issue except to criticize the Liberals for failing to protect wild salmon and not taking unspecified "action" on fish farms.)
"Controversy is developing regarding the NDP’s rather vague election promise on salmon," wrote Andrew Gage from West Coast Environment Law (2 May):
Read more via "Election 2013 – On protecting BC’s Salmon"
The Straight also reported (3 May):
Watch Alexandra Morton's video message online here
What does NDP leader Adrian Dix really stand for on salmon?
Is he pro-wild salmon or pro-salmon farming?
Dix's silence on salmon leaves people scratching their heads.
The NDP leadership are fully aware of opinion polls indicating support for removing salmon feedlots – with 68% of NDP voters wanting to remove salmon feedlots!
So if the majority of NDP supporters want salmon feedlots removed then why does Adrian Dix not pledge to nix the Norwegian corporations (who now control over 90% of BC's salmon farms) from the coast? What is the NDP leadership waiting for when the solution is staring Dix straight in the face?
NDP candidates across the province are being applauded for sticking their necks out. NDP MLA Nicholas Simons drew more praise for his strong position via public comments posted on the Coast Reporter web-site:
However, the NDP's election platform is strangely silent on salmon with just two mentions in 70 pages.
Read more via "The NDP's Salmon Sell Out – Money Talks, Adrian Dix Doesn't!"
Sadly, the NDP leader's policy on salmon farming appears more in line with Liberal Party leader Christy Clark.
Adrian's love-in with the Liberal leader is driving voters to the Greens.
The NDP is waving goodbye to the Green vote by ignoring the salmon farming issue.
Read more via "Is the NDP the Liberal Party in disguise? Go Green for Wild Salmon!"
Join the Facebook discussion via "Will Dix Nix Salmon Feedlots?"
Whilst the BC NDP is keen to invoke comparisons with the NDP's inspirational leader Jack Layton, Adrian Dix is unwilling to speak out on the salmon issue.
The NDP's Jack Layton is surely turning in his grave at the Adrian Dix's continued support for such a filthy fish farming industry.
"I think the long-term decline that we’ve seen, the growth of fish
farming that we’ve seen, is something that’s of very, very grave
concern," said Layton in 2010. "So this is a high priority for us."
Read more via "Jack Layton highlights NDP concern about B.C. wild salmon"
How long can Adrian Dix continue his policy of saying absolutely nothing on salmon?
As Dix dilly-dallies, the Greens continue to pick up votes from the NDP. 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"
Voters like Eddie Gardner who are frustrated at the NDP's lack of leadership on wild salmon are going green!
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.
Until NDP leader Adrian Dix comes out against salmon feedlots his claims of protecting the coast are complete and utter bullshit.
Read more via "The NDP's Salmon Sell Out – Money Talks, Adrian Dix Doesn't!" and "Is the NDP the Liberal Party in disguise? Go Green for Wild Salmon!"
Make sure you vote for wild salmon on 14 May!
Read more via the latest issue of Common Ground online here