In parliamentary question period, June 4, North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney pressed the federal government on its long-awaited report on aquaculture and wild salmon.
“In my riding, wild salmon is key to our cultural and economic health and needs immediate action to survive,” said Blaney during question period. “Aquaculture workers and wild salmon advocates are looking for clarity. There is no time to waste. Will the parliamentary secretary give us a date when we can expect this report?”
In a media release, Blaney stated that Terry Beech, the parliamentary secretary for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, began a consultation process last fall. The consultation concluded in March with a report promised for the spring, stated Blaney.
The report is meant to inform a plan to transition open-net pen aquaculture in BC by 2025, which was both an election platform commitment, and included in the mandate letter of the minister of fisheries.
In response to Blaney’s questions, Beech stated: “I fully expect that the report will be ready in the next number of weeks.”
