Announced in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s statement on March 31st, the Federal Liberals have committed to “Invest in Canada’s wild Atlantic Salmon strategy, backed by more than $80 million, to stabilize and rebuild habitats.”
Bravo!
What is at odds with this good news, however, is the determination of Tim Houston’s government to continue allowing Cooke Aquaculture’s expansion of Open Net Fish Farms throughout the province, and specifically, their operation off Saddle Island in Bayswater, Nova Scotia. The Provincial Conservatives’ actions are counter productive to the Federal Liberals’ generous and necessary step in the stewardship of our coastal waters.
Additionally, when you write to the Premier, the Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries, and the Minister of the Environment, you are sure to receive a reply stating that these decisions are not of their doing but instead reside with the Aquaculture Review Board.
May I remind Premier Houston and the MLAs cited above that they are elected to act in the best interests of the province and their constituents. They are also responsible for making the tough decisions.
Is it perhaps time to examine the need for having the ARB at all? Eliminating it would even help to reduce the provincial deficit, as members of the ARB are remunerated and it seems that the only entity to benefit from their work is Cooke Aquaculture, based out of New Brunswick.
Linda Carter
Blandford, NS