If the BC New Democratic Party dilly-dally and dither any longer they should seriously consider changing their name to the BC Never Deliver Party. As time ebbs away, the chances of the NDP actually delivering on their pre-election pledge to protect wild salmon and remove salmon farms appears more and more remote.
Watch video online here
The NDP may not have a time-line for the removal of salmon farms but time is fast running out for wild salmon – and for the credibility of the NDP. A comparison of the NDP's pre-election pledges and promises with the NDP's post-election procrastinations and prevarications leaves a nasty smell (rather reminiscent of a salmon farm).
Anyone watching Andrew Weaver, leader of the Green Party of British Columbia, "seeking clarity" of the NDP in the BC Legislature last month will have been alarmed at the NDP's lack of commitment (the NDP's negative body language alone is enough to ring alarm bells).
Watch video of the exchange in the BC Legislature online here
In a press release (13 September), Andrew Weaver stated:
In an interview outside the BC Legislature, the Minister of Agriculture (Lana Popham), argued that it is "very complicated" to remove salmon farms.
However, the non-renewal of salmon farm licenses would be incredibly simple. With the swipe of a pen the NDP could wipe away decades of disease-ridden salmon farming in British Columbia.
When in opposition, Lana Popham was crystal clear in her calls for transparency of farmed salmon diseases.
Now in office, the Minister of Agriculture must listen to the clarion calls for immediate action.
Her NDP colleague Scott Fraser (now the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation) has also curried favor with wild salmon advocates and voters by speaking out in support of wild salmon and against salmon farming.
In an interview whilst in opposition, the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation lambasted the BC Government for failing to protect wild salmon and transition to closed containment salmon farming. "I wish the Government would [implement the recommendations of the Final Report of the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture in 2007]," said Fraser. "We're still waiting for a Provincial Government to take that seriously."
Don't hold your breath that the NDP will act anytime soon on removing salmon farms. The Globe & Mail reported (27 August):
The NDP's weasel words – "where possible" – had biologist Alexandra Morton reaching straight for her video blog. "Well, let me just say this. Right here is where it is possible to get rid of salmon farms because these Nations throughout the Broughton Archipelago never signed any agreement with these industries and they have been telling you, the NDP and the other governments, that they do not want salmon farms for the past thirty years."
"So do the right thing," concluded Morton. "For goodness sakes, the NDP put the farms here. It's time to correct that mistake and Claire Trevena, now Minister Trevena, stood up in the bighouse of the Namgis and said she would get the fish farms out of these territories. So just do it. Do it."
Watch video online here
NDP leaders have a chance to do the right thing this coming Tuesday (10 October) when they meet with First Nation leaders in Alert Bay.
"We've demonstrated peacefully for over 30 years, and we're occupying now," Chief Willie Moon of the Musgamagw Dzawda'enuxw told CBC News (7 September). "It's unlimited as to what we will do to get those fish farms out of our territory."
The occupation of Marine Harvest salmon farms in BC continues with protestors now into Day 45 – read the latest updates via Facebook's 'Swanson Occupation' page.
"We want the fish farms removed from our territory and the licences of occupation revoked and suspended immediately," said Hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred from the Nagmis, Lawit’sis and Mamalilikala nations in an interview with The Tyee (21 September). "Are they going to force us to have these farms are our territory," asked Alfred who is not going anywhere until the NDP honor their pledge to remove salmon farms. If the governments fail to respect aboriginal territorial rights, "they will have a grand fight in front of them."
Read more online here
Earlier this week, science broadcaster and environmental activist David Suzuki added his weight to the call to remove salmon farms by visiting one of the occupied salmon farms.
The extremely simple (and not very complicated) message to the NDP is get the fish farms out!
If the NDP's leader John Horgan and the Premier of BC still needs convincing he should seek the counsel of his Chief of Staff, Geoff Meggs, who visited Norway over 20 years ago as part of a fisheries delegation to see first hand the environmental ills of the salmon farming industry.
"We were very worried when the first fish farms arrived in BC," said Meggs (who formerly worked with the fisherman's union and the City of Vancouver). "They were fleeing tighter regulations in Norway and the Government of the day – the Vander Zalm Government – basically imposed no regulations here so there was a rush to stake sites for fish farms. We led a delegation to Norway to see what was happening there and became very convinced that fish farming would be harmful to the wild salmon and unfortunately we were right."
Watch video online here
John Horgan could also ask his NDP colleague Rick Glumac, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology, on the urgent need to remove salmon farms. Before he was an MLA, Glumac was a co-ordinator of the Wild Salmon Circle who advocated the immediate removal of open net cage salmon farms.
Both Geoff Meggs and Rick Glumac, along with David Suzuki, Alexandra Morton, Chief Bob Chamberlin, Darren Blaney and Twyla Roscovich signed a letter to the King of Norway in 2010 calling for the removal of salmon farms out of the path of migrating wild salmon. The letter included:
Read the letter in full online here
Another letter to the King of Norway in 2009 signed by Geoff Meggs (along with David Suzuki and Alexandra Morton) cited the following quote from Chief Robert Joseph of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council:
"The demise of wild salmon is tantamount to genocide because it reflects the demise of our culture, way of life and spirituality. Since the advent of salmon farming in our territories we have seen an apocalyptic decline in the state of our wild salmon stocks in the Broughton Archipelago."
John Horgan, are you listening to the calls of the wild salmon people?
Watch videos of the ongoing (and escalating) occupation online here
In the wake of the tragic death of film-maker Twyla Roscovich, the NDP has been swift both federally and provincially to pay tribute.
Rachel Blaney, MP for North Island-Powell River (married to Darren Blaney who has visited Norway to campaign for the removal of salmon farms), made the following statement in the Parliament of Canada (20 September):
Jennifer Rice, MLA for North Coast, told the BC Legislature (18 September):
Rick Glumac, MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam, also talked movingly in the BC Legislature about Twyla's life and legacy.
Heavens forbid that the NDP forget that Twyla's life was devoted to protecting wild salmon and removing salmon farms from BC waters (watch Twyla's films 'Call From A Coast' and 'Salmon Confidential'). Twyla's voice lives on through her amazing films – including a video credited with helping the NDP into power – and her legacy may live on further via the removal of salmon farms in BC.
Her video of Claire Trevena, now a Minister in the NDP Government, publicly pledging to remove salmon farms is still making waves for sure.
And Chief Bob Chamberlin's "delay, deny and distract" caution to the NDP's Jane Shin following a screening of 'Salmon Confidential' still resonates:
The NDP's late leader Jack Layton could also offer John Horgan some wise words.
"This is a very important area for action by the federal government, working, of course, with the province and with local communities and with First Nations, too, up and down the coast," said Layton in an interview with The Straight in 2010. "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. So this is a high priority for us."
So are you listening Mr Horgan? And are you ready and willing to sign the order to remove salmon farms?
Or are you cut from the same cloth as your predecessor?
Mr Horgan, don't be a Dix. Nix salmon farms, now!
Read more via:
Time for Dix to Nix Salmon Feedlots
The NDP's Salmon Sell Out – Money Talks, Adrian Dix Doesn't!
Is the NDP the Liberal Party in disguise? Go Green for Wild Salmon!
Message to the NDP – Cut the Crap on Salmon Farming