BC Election 2013, North Island Candidates and BC Salmon Farming
Campbell River Mirror, April 30, 2013
The provincial election is on Tuesday, May 14. This week, the Mirror asked the three North Island candidates: Fish farming, specifically raising Atlantic salmon in net pens, are you for or against?
Bob Bray, BC Conservatives
I am in favour of farming Atlantic salmon in net pens.
I regret that there are not enough wild salmon to provide as many jobs as formerly. There are not even enough wild salmon to satisfy worldwide food demand for fish.
The risk of Atlantic salmon breeding in our waters has been demonstrated to be non-existent. Years ago, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in a weird experiment, released 1.7 million Atlantic salmon fry over several seasons, and adult Atlantic salmon were nowhere to be seen swimming freely, then or now.
The fish farm industry is much improved in recent years with Norwegian technology being utilized. The number of jobs provided by this industry has a noticeably good impact on communities in our North Island electoral district.
Nick Facey. BC Liberals
Salmon aquaculture is a very important sector in British Columbia and particularly in the North Island area.
It employs thousands of people, creates opportunities for First Nations communities, and creates an environment for a strong network of secondary supply businesses that keep our economy strong, growing and stable.
That said, aquaculture can only be supported knowing that it is being done responsibly.
I believe that the extensive work done by the industry and the stringent regulations developed by the federal and provincial governments meet that standard.
The BC Liberal government has already voiced its support of the Cohen Commission recommendations that would see a review of siting regulations, additional research in the Discovery Islands and a moratorium on new sites in that area; and I stand by that commitment.
With good management and strong oversight, I believe aquaculture will continue to be an important part of the North Island’s future.
Last week I was able to visit the Marine Harvest Canada processing plant in Port Hardy and it is clear how important a facility of that size is for the community.
I’ve also been able to tour salmon farms and hatcheries myself and meet the people who proudly take care of their fish.
It represents many jobs – good jobs – so ensuring that this sector is sustainable is important to our riding.
Claire Trevena, NDP
The BC NDP has explicitly stated that it is strongly in favour of implementing the recommendations of the Cohen Commission Report and is committed to working to achieve their implementation.
This report, exploring the decline of sockeye in the Fraser River, was wide-ranging and comprehensive in its recommendations.
It must be remembered that, as a consequence of a legal challenge brought in 2009, the BC Supreme Court ruled that the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction for open-net aquaculture. This ruling severely limits the province’s ability to regulate in this area.
We are disappointed Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not moved promptly to implement Justice Cohen’s recommendations.
Last May, my party stated that we are firmly committed to working with and, if necessary, pressuring Fisheries to act if we form the government.
The recommendations include: using the precautionary principle to re-evaluate risk and mitigation measures for salmon farms in the Discovery Islands including closing farms that pose a serious risk to migrating salmon; limiting salmon farm production and licenses; and, maintaining the existing moratorium on new fish farm licenses on the North Coast.
We are watching with interest the development of land-based, closed containment fish farm projects in the North Island, projects that I support.
An area where the province does have jurisdiction is renewing leases for the siting of fish farms.
Unfortunately, the BC Liberals have not developed either the capacity nor clear policy directives to handle this responsibility.
The BC NDP will develop them if we form the government.
BC Election 2013 - Meet your North Island Candidates.
Campbell River Mirror, April 16, 2013
In the coming weeks, the Mirror will follow their campaigns and question the candidates on the issues.
Today though, let’s meet the candidates:
Claire Trevena, NDP incumbent
The 50-year-old Quadra Island resident was first elected in 2005 and re-elected in 2009.
In the early 1990s Trevena was the BBC’s Canadian correspondent and later was employed by the CBC.
Subsequently, she worked overseas on democratic development projects for which she was awarded the Canada Peacekeeping Medal.
And prior to the 2005 election, Trevena ran a small communications business with her husband Mike McIvor.
She has served as the NDP’s critic for children and family development, women’s issues, employment and income assistance, and also served as a Deputy Speaker of the House.
In 2007, Trevena was instrumental in delivering a 19,000-name petition to the Legislature which supported hospitals in both Campbell River and the Comox Valley.
Last year, the province, in partnership with the Comox-Strathcona Hospital Board, announced the building of two new hospitals in both communities at a cost of $600.
CONTACT:
Website: clairetrevena.bcndp.ca
e-mail: reelectclairetrevena@yahoo.ca
Campaign office: 1100 Shoppers Row, Campbell River
Call: 250-914-0403
Nick Facey, BC Liberals
The 26-year-old Campbell River resident is a political newcomer who received the North Island Liberal candidacy last October.
Facey is currently on leave from Simon Fraser University where he’s working towards a PhD at the Beedie School of Business. He has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria and is also a certified university teacher who gives lectures at SFU.
While attending UVic, Facey worked as co-op engineer at the former Elk Falls Mill. He has strong ties to forestry and resource industries; his grandfather Bud worked as a logger in the North Island in the 1930s and his father Norm (who’s also working on the campaign) worked in resource industries for more than 30 years.
Facey lives with his common-law wife Chelsea Cofield and their dog, Leia. He plays hockey, golf and is a backyard mechanic who pulls wrenches for fun at Saratoga Speedway.
Facey’s campaign will focus on supporting economic growth, making better use of the region’s resources and supporting families.
CONTACT:
Website: northislandnick.ca
E-mail: nick.facey@bcliberals.com
Call: 250-204-0908
Constituency office: Georgia Quay, 102-901 Island Hwy., Campbell River
Bob Bray,BC Conservatives
Bob Bray, 68, grew up in North Vancouver.
He and his wife Marilyn raised three children in Richmond and they now have seven grandchildren. Bray, a retired business executive, and his wife, a retired teacher, now live in Campbell River.
He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of B.C. (1966) and an MBA from SFU (1980). Bray first came in Campbell River in 1963 when he took a summer job near Middle Quinsam Lake studying grouse. And over a three-year period in the 1970s, Bray was a leader at summer-long family camps for group home children in the wilderness near Roberts Lake. He worked as an assistant administer for the Arthritis Society’s outpatient hospital, at UBC in a variety of positions including director of administration in the Faculty of Medicine, and, his last job, assistant general manager at Trev Deeley Motorcycles in Vancouver retailer. Bray believes in careful financial management and maintaining a civil society that meets “social justice goals.”
CONTACT:
Website: tuesdaymay14.shawwebspace.ca
E-mail: bob@bobbraystories.com
Call: 250-504-0052 or toll-free at 877-669-4774
Constituency office: 333-1434 Ironwood St., Campbell River
