Federal

Jean Crowder, MP Nanaimo-Cowichan

"Here is my statement in the House on April 23, 2010:

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, marine biologist Alexandra Morton left Sointula on her "Get Out Migration" walk down Vancouver Island to raise public awareness about the effects of industrial fish farming on wild salmon.

People around the world are paying attention and demanding that our government recognize that salmon are sacred and protect wild runs. Lax regulating of open-net salmon farms along wild salmon migratory routes has resulted in the transfer of sea lice and disease, contamination of the seabed by waste products and the takeover of habitat by escaped fish.

Canadians, especially in my riding of Nanaimo—Cowichan, want the federal government to apply the Fisheries Act and ban open-net salmon farming near these routes, so we do not lose the food security, thousands of jobs and millions of dollars that wild salmon bring to our province. Alexandra Morton is calling for moving the industrial production of fish to land-based operations away from wild salmon.

Salmon farm families do not have to be left behind. We can have our fish and eat it too, by firm regulation of industrial fish farms and protection of wild salmon runs.

Keith Martin, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca

"Dr. Martin is not able to attend on Saturday.  He asked that I forward you the following statement: We need to implement a science based approach to save our wild salmon populations.  This includes habitat reclamation, changing our forestry practices code, and addressing climate change.”

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Provincial

Michael Sather, MLA Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows.

"I have been steadfastly opposed to open net fish farms on our coast and I remain opposed."
 

Lana Popham, MLA Saanich South

Please join me this Saturday for a walk in defence of wild salmon! Salmon has been a major food source for humans and other animals for thousands of years. They are a vital part of the ecology of our beautiful province and of enormous economic value to thousands and thousands of people. And yet our generation is responsible for the collapse of salmon stocks! Wild BC salmon could be wiped out like the Atlantic Cod if we don`t act now.

You are invited to my community office at 4085 Quadra on Saturday May the 8^th at 12:30 pm to welcome Alexandra Morton, the renowned biologist and salmon expert, as she completes her 500 km walk down Vancouver Island. After a brief reception, we will walk the last 7 kms to downtown Victoria.

Vicki Huntington, MLA - Delta South

"She plans to be in Sidney on Friday, hopefully to meet up with her, but certainly at the rally.  She will also join the group at Centennial Square for the walk to the legislature on the Saturday.  If she can, she may do more."

Michelle Mungall, MLA - Nelson-Creston

"Michelle Mungall will be attending May 8th’s events at the Legislature. She is looking forward to meeting Alex."

Shane Simpson MLA
Vancouver Hastings

Congratulations on your walk to Victoria in defense of our wild salmon. I am sorry I cannot be there with you.
 
More important, thank you for your years of dedication, hard work and expertise when it comes to fighting for the future of salmon. Without your efforts we truly would not have the understanding of the negative impacts of open net fish farms on the wild fishery. Nor would there be the growing consensus that open net pens cannot be allowed to continue if we are to have a future for the wild salmon.
 
You are a remarkable environmentalist, scientist and British Columbian who more than anyone I know is the champion of wild salmon in this country, if not globally. I am proud to have met you and I am proud to do what little I can to support your most worthwhile and essential efforts to protect the heritage that is wild salmon in our province and country.
 

Rob Fleming, MLA - Victoria-Swan Lake

"He expects to drop by. Having said that, he is scheduled to attend event on Salt Spring Island on Sat evening which means he’ll need to catch late afternoon ferry."

Leonard Krog, MLA - Nanaimo

Thank you for this invitation but unfortunately Mr. Krog will have to decline as he is already booked for events in his constituency of Nanaimo.

Chandra Herbert, MLA - Spencer

Thank you to Alexandra and the team at Salmon are Sacred for your tireless efforts in speaking out for wild salmon. I continue to support the recommendations of the Special Bi-Partisan Legislative Committee for Sustainable Aquaculture – unfortunately, their fifty plus recommendations have yet to be implemented by the BC Liberal government, putting our salmon at risk.

We all must do our part to protect our wild salmon. Thank you again for continuing to fight to keep this critical issue on the public agenda.

Municipal

Shelia Malcolmson, Chair, Islands Trust Council

Islands Trust Council has had a policy on fish farms since 1993, which was
adopted with extensive public input from all across the Islands Trust Area:

'Trust Council holds that finfish farms should not be located in the marine
waters of the Trust Area.'

(Islands Trust Policy Statement 1993, section  4.5.2,
http://www.islandstrust.bc.ca/tc/pdf/orgpolstatement.pdf )