What are your thoughts regarding the Department Of Fisheries marked Chinook Program? In your opinion does the DFO currently have short falls on the West Coast? if so, what are they?
As someone who sat as co-chair to the Wild Salmon Advisory Council, alongside Chief Marilyn Slett of the Heiltsuk First Nation, this is an issue that I care deeply about. On this 14-member council we worked closely with industry, First Nations, governments, sports fisherman and more.
From this work we were able to produce a report with recommendations for a made in BC Wild Salmon strategy that secured $105 million in a joint provincial- federal funding agreement to be able to implement the recommendations that will look to protect and revitalize BC Wild salmon stocks.
Just the other day we announced that if elected we would double our contribution to this funding agreement. While fisheries have typically been under the DFO direction, we do feel that there are gaps and shortfalls in the system, which is why we are investing provincial funding to ensure these shortfalls are addressed.
To learn more about our council’s work and the recommendations put forward visit www.engage.bc.ca website and type “Wild Salmon” in the search function.
Candidates responses to this question have been added in the order received. Go to the Election Questions list to see questions that have been submitted to the Forum.
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