2017 DFO cutbacks

[cracked_ribs]

Doubt that. New Con leader doesn't seem electable to me. Unfortunately

He's not my kind of guy but I think it's early to write him off. He was pretty well respected as the Speaker of the House.

Consider that in the last federal election, the Conservatives were really only down about 400,000 votes nationwide, despite running on their third straight election with the same, notoriously cold and unrelatable, leader. It's rare that any party wins four straight elections in this country, let alone one with a leader who is not only pretty robotic and remote, but also who's been run through the grinder of a motivated establishment media (not to mention the first ever leader to face today's social media).

Despite a pretty serious hamstringing, the CPC only lost around 10% of their voting base. The Trudeau win is, therefore, largely the result of NDP voters loaning support to a party which out-lefted the NDP in promises.

That'll be difficult to repeat, considering they've clearly abandoned their whole "we're going to do things differently" vibe, and haven't stayed true to their pseudo-NDP promises. They won't get the big surge of young voters twice, and they won't get the NDP support twice.

Scheer is not how I would have wanted the CPC to go; I'm basically a libertarian and I'm one of those "I want my married gay neighbours to be able to defend their pot plants with guns, and sell their defensive services to me tax-free so I can invest the savings in a for-profit MRI clinic" types. I don't really know how I feel about the CPC under Scheer; he's WAY more socially conservative than I can really get into. On the other hand he's supposed to be very ethical and disciplined about allowing his personal beliefs to define his actions as far as the best interests of Canada.

So we'll see. Trudeau may win 2019 and that's quite possible just based on the infrequency of one-term governments. But the wave that swept him into power was, in my opinion, a one-time event, so he's more vulnerable than I would guess a lot of people realize.

 

[Gong Show]

Let me here you!

Fisheries & Oceans Canada
Communications Branch
200 Kent Street, 13th Floor, Station 13E228
Ottawa Ontario K1A 0E6 Canada
Telephone: 613-993-0999

Ha! Comms unit on the 13th floor. More like the 13th circle of hell.
I support the dfo employees and programs getting the chop here, but don't kid yourself by thinking Ottawa dfo is listening to us.

 

[agentaqua]

I think the french/Quebec vote was instrumental in the Liberal's success...

 

[cohochinook]

I don't care what they do anymore we will do it ourselves. We really already are.

We as anglers have to realize if we want the resource to survive it's isn't any government provincially federally that will do it for us.

We as a group need to stop fighting with ourselves in every sector and push back at the government. That includes first nations. We always seem to argue about were getting than looking at big picture.

Ottawa has last touch with reality. They care more about the maritime and Ontario.

The enhancement will continue with or without dfo.

I think it's a slap in the face to volunteers to be honest.

There are plenty of fundraising activities throughout BC that everyone shoukd be a part of. Please donate to PSF or attend some of your local fundraising derbies or lend a hand. Every bit counts.

The Resource Restoration Unit is responsible, with its partnerships, for constructing thousands of fish spawning and rearing channels. Even if projects in various watersheds are allowed to continue (because we still need letters of support from DFO or we won't get funding, and who knows if DFO will be in the business of writing such letters anymore?), the cost of these projects can easily be expected to triple because they will have to be designed by private consultants. This will severely limit stewardship groups' capacity to do projects, due to such increases in project costs. Plus, stewardship groups rely on DFO to guide projects that are in keeping with DFO fish species/population conservation priorities. Stewardship groups do not have the expertise or capacity to identify these priorities, and neither will private consultants.

 

[cohochinook]

For those of you who live in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country Riding of Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, here is the email to send your concerns to her office or phone:
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones
Pam.Goldsmith-Jones.C1A@parl.gc.ca
604-913-2660

The more people who call or write an email the better!

Please add your MP's contact information if you want to help send a message back about your opposition to these cuts.

 

[Peahead]

The Resource Restoration Unit is responsible, with its partnerships, for constructing thousands of fish spawning and rearing channels. Even if projects in various watersheds are allowed to continue (because we still need letters of support from DFO or we won't get funding, and who knows if DFO will be in the business of writing such letters anymore?), the cost of these projects can easily be expected to triple because they will have to be designed by private consultants. This will severely limit stewardship groups' capacity to do projects, due to such increases in project costs. Plus, stewardship groups rely on DFO to guide projects that are in keeping with DFO fish species/population conservation priorities. Stewardship groups do not have the expertise or capacity to identify these priorities, and neither will private consultants.

Morning Dave,

Your post above explains the issues well. Can you copy your post on the other thread on this same topic? It exists in the Conservation forum with thread titled "2017 DFO Cutbacks" ?

http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/index.php?threads/2017-dfo-cutbacks.66427/

There seems to be a few on that other thread who have the 'DFO is inept' opinion without taking the time to understand the issue and what it will mean to have the RRU cut.

 

[cracked_ribs]

Yes and no...the loss of votes in Quebec in 2011 was the cause of Liberal collapse as a party, and they got those back in 2015, which was largely the result of Quebec abandoning the NDP.

But the 2011 majority government for the CPC had only a handful of seats in Quebec, so while seats in Quebec can boost the LPC substantially, they aren't necessarily critical for the CPC. Interestingly the CPC actually picked up a bunch of seats in Quebec in 2015. But they were blanked on the entire east coast.

The other big swing was Ontario, where people, apparently so thrilled with the Wynne government's total incompetence that they decided to inflict it on everyone else.

 

[Tyndra]

Before we get back to the issue at hand, I want to address a couple of points. This tactic is merely a carry over from what the Liberals did (Chretien) back in the mid 90's. They literally tried to shutdown all hatcheries and programs! Salmon are a pain in the Federal Government's side that pays nothing in return! The only reason we have had any success (not just hatchery fish to take home but also any habitat restoration) is thanks to the Community Advisors of the time! They do not get nearly enough respect! The last Government's intention was to free up funding and make it easier for projects to go through. The Harper government did not care one way or the other about salmon, only the end result. That is bad, but what is worse is having a government who deliberately targets salmon and steelhead! That is where we now sit!

Back to the cuts... How many on here had salmon in their classroom growing up? I know I did and I still remember it. I remember watching them swim, I remember watching them feed, and I remember releasing them. Strangely enough, I can't remember is my grade 4 teacher name! No students from this point on will ever get to experience that unless something changes. I fully understand that some oppose hatchery stock and want to see a focus on wild fish! What do wild salmon need more than anything else... habitat! What was the now defunct RRU charged with? Restoring habitat and spawning grounds! I will not go into the steelhead/cutthroat cuts only to say that anyone who enjoys fishing the Vedder on the off chance of taking one home... you have 3 years!

 

[bones]

Before we get back to the issue at hand, I want to address a couple of points. This tactic is merely a carry over from what the Liberals did (Chretien) back in the mid 90's. They literally tried to shutdown all hatcheries and programs! Salmon are a pain in the Federal Government's side that pays nothing in return! The only reason we have had any success (not just hatchery fish to take home but also any habitat restoration) is thanks to the Community Advisors of the time! They do not get nearly enough respect! The last Government's intention was to free up funding and make it easier for projects to go through. The Harper government did not care one way or the other about salmon, only the end result. That is bad, but what is worse is having a government who deliberately targets salmon and steelhead! That is where we now sit!

Back to the cuts... How many on here had salmon in their classroom growing up? I know I did and I still remember it. I remember watching them swim, I remember watching them feed, and I remember releasing them. Strangely enough, I can't remember is my grade 4 teacher name! No students from this point on will ever get to experience that unless something changes. I fully understand that some oppose hatchery stock and want to see a focus on wild fish! What do wild salmon need more than anything else... habitat! What was the now defunct RRU charged with? Restoring habitat and spawning grounds! I will not go into the steelhead/cutthroat cuts only to say that anyone who enjoys fishing the Vedder on the off chance of taking one home... you have 3 years!

Nice

Cut backs in the mid 90's was 54 million effecting 108 hatcheries

 

[bones]

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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[bones]

Tons of emails this morning.

 

[bones]

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/rpp/2017-18/dp-eng.html

 

[jriptide]

These cuts are really disturbing, I heard from a friend at DFO the entire team focused on supporting rehabilitating salmon runs on Vancouver Island was cut. That said, I am really surprised by the lack of media response, given just days ago they did a story on the need to rebuild Chinook stocks to save resident killer whales. Is anyone aware of any formal petitions that have been started regarding these cuts?

 

[Bugs]

https://www.change.org/p/save-the-s...-schools-across-bc?source_location=topic_page

This petition is for the education program.

Another disturbing aspect of this is that contract technical support has been cut. This means that folks who received relatively small amounts of money in contracts from DFO to support community or first nation driven habitat enhancement and small hatcheries are being cut. These folks are definitely not the "DFO" that many are so quick to disparage. The contractors I have interacted with provided incredible value, working way above and beyond their contracts and directly with community groups to get the work done.

Basically these are people who provide continuity and technical robustness to these programs. In some cases they are the ones teaching the new Community Advisors what their jobs entail rather than the other way around. Their loss will be crippling.

 

[Clint r]

Nope. Not even quite sure how you got to that idea.

Mathew Perry kickin his butt was just poking fun.

The fact he (mainly driven by his father) had close ties with communist leaders is more serious. Never trust a politician with communist tendencies.

Or just never trust a politician.

Period

 

[bones]

DFO has learned over the years to be quiet. If cut backs where pre announced then that would give the opposition time to build, like in the mid 90's. DFO on Friday morning walked in offices and said back your desk your position has been terminated. Then they went to the hatcheries to explain steelhead or the lake of steelhead program. In other words release all steelhead..... Will watch. Buddy explaind to them they where on private property and they would need to leave or be escorted off property.

 

[Floater]

Or just never trust a politician.

Period

That's why I don't understand why we tend to fight over which side of the aisle we are on. Apart from a few social benefits some party's will offer over another, the end result usually ends up much the same.

 

[Jaybones]

The Feds need the money for more useful things that will help drive the economy and create middle-class jobs. Like partnering with the Ontario Government to bring in a massive giant duck to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary. Nothing says Canada like a big yellow duck. Man, this really burns my butt.

http://www.torontosun.com/2017/05/2...tion-with-giant-inflatable-duck-costing-200gs

 

[bones]

Following Budget 2016, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (and the Canadian Coast Guard) conducted a thorough review of its programs and services to determine if our work was aligned with our core mandate or if there were options for reallocation. The review determined that DFO and the Coast Guard required ongoing investments to maintain the delivery of critical services to Canadians. However, several programs were identified as not core to meet the Department's legislative and regulatory responsibilities.

DFO's Resource Restoration Unit is being eliminated, along with two other Salmon Enhancement Program components - the Education and Technical Support Contracts and the production of Steelhead and Cutthroat Trout at SEP Hatcheries. DFO's Resource Restoration Unit will go through a phased transition over 3 years; the other two reductions will take place this year; although existing fish in hatcheries will be maintained until their scheduled release.

Even though SEP is undergoing changes, the Department remains committed to achieving its management objectives as they relate to the harvest, stock assessment and conservation of Pacific salmon. The program that will continue include: fish production at the 23 large hatchery facilities, fish production through the Community Economic Development Program, as well as numerous Public Involvement Projects that are delivered by community groups and supported by DFO.

We intend to continue to work with stakeholders to address the recommendations of the Cohen Commission, including implementation the Wild Salmon Policy, partnering on the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project, support the Strategic Salmon Health Initiative and other areas of mutual interest. As well we continue to be committed to habitat restoration. For example, we are increasing investments to First Nations through the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy and the Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management Program. We are investing heavily in coastal restoration under the Oceans Protection Plan and we continue to invest in local organizations through the Recreational Fisheries Conservation and Partnership Program.

Given the growth within our organization as a result of these new investments, and an expectation that we will be hiring upwards of 900 new employees across the country over the next year, we are confident that we will be able to find other opportunities within the Department for all of our affected staff.

Regards,

Rebecca Reid
Regional Director General/ Directrice générale régionale
Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Pacific Region/ Pêches et Océans Canada - Région du Pacific
200-401 Burrard Street / 401, rue Burrard, bureau 200
Vancouver, BC/CB V6C 3S4

 

[GLG]

Thanks Bones for posting that. If anyone is interested in the Recreational Fisheries Conservation and Partnership Program you can find the information here. It's a royal pain in the azz but doable. Be prepared to spend a fair amount of cash first so that you are prepared for the program.
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/rfcpp-ppcpr/index-eng.html