Little Hawk
Active Member
Otto Langer was one of the 'Good Guys' in the DFO, that's why they got rid of him.
Now, qualifications for the position he held in such high esteem include - having no passion or attachment for/to Pacific salmon.
Rafe sent me this and I am compelled to pass it on.
RAFE HERE - below you will find some very sad words from one of Canada's most respected fish biologists who, for many years in the Department of Fisheries ands Oceans fought to save our precious salmon. PLEASE READ AND PASS ON
Re: New DFO Cuts - Otto Langer.
We knew this was coming but I felt it would be better sugar coated and hopefully not be that severe. The naive belief that DFO is moving to an ecosystem approach is to let the naive believe that it will then be more efficient and more effective. DFO has never really shown that they can relate to an ecosystem approach with the expertise, resources and legislation they have let alone do it better with less (the promise they made when they implemented their new EPMP policy to protect fish habitat better with less resources back in 2006). Also referring to cuts as "a dynamic change agenda" is another line of absolute rubbish. The problem with DFO is that they have been playing musical chairs for many years and it has been too dynamic and they have lost sight for their basic reason for existence ie its the fish and fish habitat stupid!
What DFO requires is a major decentralization from Ottawa and more local decision making and a major cut in overly highly paid managers.
When I was DFO head of habitat protection in the Frase River, Northen BC and the Yukon I did it as a Biologist 3. That same area is now divided into 4 areas and is run by no less then 4 Biologist 5 positions and they have many more bio 4 under them and the pay these bilogist now get is greatly improved over what we got back in 1990. The cost in terms of management staff to just run habitat management is now four times greater than it was just 20 years ago and that is to now probably do less with less working staff. This is cruel to employees in that they are already on their knees and do not have the will to do a good job with the resources to to support them and as we have seen in the Cohen Commission a many DFO employees know where their pay cheque is coming from and will do almost anything to keep Ottawa happy. Its too bad the CCG is part of DFO - would have probably done better in the Armed Forces or MOT.
I do not believe Deputy Minister Claire D (of BC MOF and MOTH highways background!!) or anyone else in DFO has a grasp of what are the real ecosystem issues and how you put that into government policy and action. This is why government now hires higher level managers with no experience in the field they are to direct so they will not be attached to the resource. When I left DFO Fraser River Habitat Head position in 1990 the basic qualification for my replacement was - you were to have no background in habitat protection! They said Otto Langer was too attached to the resource! DFO has now perfected that hands off - do not care approach to a job that most Canadians feel has to be done better.
We are now nearing the death watch phase of DFO and this will not allow Cohen (in the most sunny and positive day) to say much to change anything to give the salmon a better chance of survival. The future of the environment certainly does look dismal under the Harper government.
Now, qualifications for the position he held in such high esteem include - having no passion or attachment for/to Pacific salmon.
Rafe sent me this and I am compelled to pass it on.
RAFE HERE - below you will find some very sad words from one of Canada's most respected fish biologists who, for many years in the Department of Fisheries ands Oceans fought to save our precious salmon. PLEASE READ AND PASS ON
Re: New DFO Cuts - Otto Langer.
We knew this was coming but I felt it would be better sugar coated and hopefully not be that severe. The naive belief that DFO is moving to an ecosystem approach is to let the naive believe that it will then be more efficient and more effective. DFO has never really shown that they can relate to an ecosystem approach with the expertise, resources and legislation they have let alone do it better with less (the promise they made when they implemented their new EPMP policy to protect fish habitat better with less resources back in 2006). Also referring to cuts as "a dynamic change agenda" is another line of absolute rubbish. The problem with DFO is that they have been playing musical chairs for many years and it has been too dynamic and they have lost sight for their basic reason for existence ie its the fish and fish habitat stupid!
What DFO requires is a major decentralization from Ottawa and more local decision making and a major cut in overly highly paid managers.
When I was DFO head of habitat protection in the Frase River, Northen BC and the Yukon I did it as a Biologist 3. That same area is now divided into 4 areas and is run by no less then 4 Biologist 5 positions and they have many more bio 4 under them and the pay these bilogist now get is greatly improved over what we got back in 1990. The cost in terms of management staff to just run habitat management is now four times greater than it was just 20 years ago and that is to now probably do less with less working staff. This is cruel to employees in that they are already on their knees and do not have the will to do a good job with the resources to to support them and as we have seen in the Cohen Commission a many DFO employees know where their pay cheque is coming from and will do almost anything to keep Ottawa happy. Its too bad the CCG is part of DFO - would have probably done better in the Armed Forces or MOT.
I do not believe Deputy Minister Claire D (of BC MOF and MOTH highways background!!) or anyone else in DFO has a grasp of what are the real ecosystem issues and how you put that into government policy and action. This is why government now hires higher level managers with no experience in the field they are to direct so they will not be attached to the resource. When I left DFO Fraser River Habitat Head position in 1990 the basic qualification for my replacement was - you were to have no background in habitat protection! They said Otto Langer was too attached to the resource! DFO has now perfected that hands off - do not care approach to a job that most Canadians feel has to be done better.
We are now nearing the death watch phase of DFO and this will not allow Cohen (in the most sunny and positive day) to say much to change anything to give the salmon a better chance of survival. The future of the environment certainly does look dismal under the Harper government.
Last edited by a moderator: