No Habitat, No Fish: Harper Plans for Elimination of Wildlife Protection!!!
- Thread starter Whole in the Water
- Start date
Englishman
Well-Known Member
I have signed up to this and sent other letters already. I will be doing more.
This all about Enbridge and that damn pipeline. They want to change the laws so they can reduce or eliminate envionmental reviews and blunt the weapons people and organisations have to fight legal battles. You can hear it in the spin words they use about acknowledging "new economic realities' (see the Globe and Mail article links posted earlier).
For us recreational fishers, if you thought the pipeline was bad, it just got a whole lot worse because these legislative changes will allow mine tailings (see fight about Fish Lake), run-of-the-river projects (see Kokish river project), fish feed lot expansions, and any other development to impact "fish habitat" in both freshwater and the ocean with virtually nothing to stop them.
This is very serious, and it is going to be a big battle. I for one, am going to fighting as hard as I can against this one.!!!
This all about Enbridge and that damn pipeline. They want to change the laws so they can reduce or eliminate envionmental reviews and blunt the weapons people and organisations have to fight legal battles. You can hear it in the spin words they use about acknowledging "new economic realities' (see the Globe and Mail article links posted earlier).
For us recreational fishers, if you thought the pipeline was bad, it just got a whole lot worse because these legislative changes will allow mine tailings (see fight about Fish Lake), run-of-the-river projects (see Kokish river project), fish feed lot expansions, and any other development to impact "fish habitat" in both freshwater and the ocean with virtually nothing to stop them.
This is very serious, and it is going to be a big battle. I for one, am going to fighting as hard as I can against this one.!!!
fish stalker
Active Member
If someone would draft up a letter I will post on as many outdoor activity sites as I can. We could mabey make a thread with the letter people can use and a list of emails of people who might make a difference that it can be sent to.
I sent the Sierra club one off but would rather play there game and send it out to a ndp'er or liberal who sees this as a way to get get votes in the next election and is actually going to call harper out.
on another note does anyone who organized the protest when the norweigans were on the island last week? I know she was there, was it Alexandera Motorn?
I sent the Sierra club one off but would rather play there game and send it out to a ndp'er or liberal who sees this as a way to get get votes in the next election and is actually going to call harper out.
on another note does anyone who organized the protest when the norweigans were on the island last week? I know she was there, was it Alexandera Motorn?
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hambone
Well-Known Member
"Canada poised to 'gut' fish protection laws, biologist claims"
http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/technology/story.html?id=6295564
http://www.vancouversun.com/touch/technology/story.html?id=6295564
IronNoggin
Well-Known Member
Scientists are calling on the Harper government to scrap plans to weaken the federal Fisheries Act, saying it will "severely impair" Canada's ability to protect biodiversity and species at risk.
They also want Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield to come clean about what scientists inside his own department think of the proposed changes.
"In the interests of transparency and accountability, and in the interests of Canadian society, we respectfully request that the science advice received in this regard be made publicly available without delay," Jeffrey Hutchings, president of the Canadian Society For Ecology and Evolution, says in a letter sent to Ashfield on Monday.
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/S...proposed+Fisheries+changes/6326476/story.html
External Science has spoken, and directly requested that Harper lift the gag order on Internal Science to do the same.
Anyone care to take a bet??
Nog
They also want Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield to come clean about what scientists inside his own department think of the proposed changes.
"In the interests of transparency and accountability, and in the interests of Canadian society, we respectfully request that the science advice received in this regard be made publicly available without delay," Jeffrey Hutchings, president of the Canadian Society For Ecology and Evolution, says in a letter sent to Ashfield on Monday.
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/S...proposed+Fisheries+changes/6326476/story.html
External Science has spoken, and directly requested that Harper lift the gag order on Internal Science to do the same.
Anyone care to take a bet??
Nog
salmonkiller01
Well-Known Member
I do not usually get involved in political discussions, but I am wondering if it is possible to do a recall campain on an mp, I know vanderzalm did it provincially and it sent a strong message to the Campbell government. Wouldn't this send a message to harper?? I googled it but only found info on the provincial recalls(only 2 ).
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/S...reported+changes+Fisheries/6332377/story.html
A 2nd former Conservative Cabinet Minister speaks out against changes to the Fisheries Act.
He makes some strong statements considering he is a former Conservative Cabinet Minister.
A 2nd former Conservative Cabinet Minister speaks out against changes to the Fisheries Act.
He makes some strong statements considering he is a former Conservative Cabinet Minister.
Charlie
Well-Known Member
If referring to Harper, it has never been done in the history of Canada. It would be for "loss of confidence." From what I have read the Governor General has the authority to replace him; however, I would tend to believe it would start with Parliment, then more "out of tradition" the Governor General would replace him. Google "impeach"!
are there conservation groups active in Canada?? that should be your first step. getting a noted conservation organization into this battle is probably far easier than trying to do a 'recall' of a government. if such a group has a history of actively supporting these sorts of causes, including litigation, you all need to get behind that organiztion with information and MONEY. phone calls, letters, attending meeting all make us feel good but at the end of the day do little or nothing to stem the tide. litigation speaks loudly, gets everyones attention and can have the impact desired. it works down this way and i am sure it would work in Canada.
Englishman
Well-Known Member
Totally agree. !!
There are several groups fighting to preserve habitat and fight salmon feed lots. We should all be getting on board with them to fight these battles. The Georgia Strait Alliance has just started a campaign/petition against the proposed changes to the fisheries protection act. Why would we not lend our support on that issue??
http://www.georgiastrait.org/urgent-action-message-form.php?urgent=fisheries_act_cuts
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Like way sooner, it's insane, might as well fall every tree, dam every river, develop every mine. The conservative government has no interest in protecting anything but big business and fat wallets. I have a lot of reading to do at the forum just starting to catch up, haven't been on since moving back to Ukee Feb 2nd, to busy working 6-7 days a week (but that's a good thing at this time of year on the wild side).
chevyshaulass
Well-Known Member
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/124/389/037/keep-protection-of-habitat-in-the-canada-fisheries-act/
not sure if this has been posted but heres the link to the petition against this. sign away.
not sure if this has been posted but heres the link to the petition against this. sign away.
J.C.W. 500
Member
I just signed that petition yesterday and further publicized it on Face Book. I was at 1600 ish.
I also spent 2 days on writing and revising a letter to the Fisheries Minister against this BS change in the Fisheries Protection Act.
I also spent 2 days on writing and revising a letter to the Fisheries Minister against this BS change in the Fisheries Protection Act.
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Charlie
Well-Known Member
Might I suggest sending the letter to both Ashfield and Harper. FYI... for your two days work, you recieve a very nice pre-written, pre-approved response from both thanking you. Harper's will actually tell you he is forwarding it to Ashfield. Yea, I know even being a Yank, I have been down this letter writing game way too many times. If everyone were to post the letters they have recieved you will find during specific dates, concerning a specific issue those letters will be word for word exactly the same! Sorry, the response will be polite but neither Harper and/or Ashfield really care what YOU as an individual have to say! But, KEEP WRITTING THOSE LETTERS, as they are entered into a data base.
Now, may I also suggest another route? Send a copy to your MLA and anyone and everyone else associated with local government alerting them this is unacceptable and as a concerned citizen and "voter" you want to know "their" position, and what they are currently doing. IMHO much more important then sending anything to Harper or Ashfield. First, you will get a "personalized" response and maybe even a request from some to meet and/or talk to discuss. You, at least feel you accomplished something and someone actually took the time to read your letter.
Lastly, would you mind sharing the letter? I have in the past, posted letters giving permission to use, copy in part or in whole. It helps others who aren't going to spend two day working on a letter, to give them ideas and thoughts - it really helps others to write letters.
YOU REALLY NEED TO STOP THIS ONE!!! Or, your new motto will be "we love our farmed salmon"!
casper5280
Crew Member
That is a great idea, as some of us me included find it very hard to write letters to the government
J.C.W. 500
Member
Hey Charlie, thanks for the suggestions, I'll definitely be sending a copy to my MLA.
Here's the letter I wrote.
Concerns With Weakening the Fisheries Protection Act
Dear Keith Ashfield:
I am writing to you to express my deep concerns about the proposed modification of the Fisheries Protection Act. I highly believe that this action will depress the healthy fisheries that Canada is known for and further deplete the already struggling Vancouver Island salmon stocks.
In the modern world we are already facing challenges with climate change, food shortages, worldwide fish stocks declining at an alarming rate, environmental depletion, etc. It disgusts me as a Canadian citizen that in this day and age, already what I believe are fairly lax fish habitat protection laws is going to be further weakened to allow corporations to do anything at any expense to Canada’s waterways. Healthy fisheries like Fish Lake BC were being proposed to be destroyed due to a mining project. The fish lake fishery provides cultural importance to the First Nations and great importance to the many locals and tourist sport fishers. It took heavy lobbying to get the project rejected. Canada is known for its current pristine wilderness and world class sport fishing, which in return attracts many tourists that give this nation over 74 billion in revenues and provide about 660 000 jobs directly related to the industry. If this act was made weaker than it currently is, then many more fisheries of local importance across Canada would be under great threat. When fish don’t have any habitat to support them, then that would mean no fish. That would mean that thousands of local businesses that are indirectly related to fisheries that are destroyed, would be feeling a large loss, while businesses directly linked to these devastated fisheries would very likely go out of business, costing Canadians thousands of jobs. Canada would likely lose out on millions in tourist revenue. Not only that, but local sport fishers, and local natives would likely be socially devastated from having to try to accept that their local life- long cherished fishery was lost just to benefit an unethical practice done by the 1% (AKA rich corporate owners) that have had a history of exploiting the land and leaving their mess behind, and then continue on to tramp on the local environment elsewhere. Many of these CEOs probably do not even live near the areas they exploit, hence not feeling the local impact that they make. Tourists would also likely be feeling large scale grief as their favorite tourist getaway paradise that they invested thousands into and drove great distances to get to every year is a thing of the past. I live in Central Alberta, but if the Vancouver Island was destroyed due to destructive industry, I would be deeply devastated as it is my top favorite summer getaway paradise.
Here is a link to prove how important tourism is to Canada.
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/dsib-tour.nsf/eng/Home
Another reason I oppose these changes to the Fisheries Protection Act, is the fact that the Vancouver Island BC salmon stocks are dwindling, while South Vancouver Island Orca Whales are listed as endangered. It is well known that keeping Salmon spawning habitat intact as much as possible will help keep salmon stocks healthy. I believe that the current development that is allowed with the strength of the Fisheries Protection Act, has already been challenging the sustainability of Wild Pacific Salmon stocks to the point that there will probably be a commercial and sport fishing closure on Southern Vancouver Island this upcoming summer. Logging along the rivers has likely allowed unnatural amounts of run-off to flow into the rivers. Chemicals from the run-off and sewage that is dumped into the river has been shown to contribute to the depletion of the salmon population. A study a while back has shown that some of these chemicals have turned many male smolt salmon into females. Damming without building appropriate fish ladders has also blocked off or greatly delayed the salmon’s ability to run up the rivers to make it back to their spawning grounds. With these changes being made to the Act, it sounds like corporations would be allowed to further destruct these vital spawning rivers, causing destruction to these salmon spawning grounds, not to mention the toxic industry tailings poisoning smolts that turn out to be sensitive to toxic and man made chemicals. Even if these potentially harmful industries don’t occur directly on the larger salmon spawning rivers, the toxins would still carry into these spawning rivers if these smaller streams were connected to them. With these changes to the Fisheries Protection Act, it would also be likely that more net pen fish farms would be allowed to be built, which I believe would further deplete the already struggling salmon stocks. Studies have shown that these net pen farms attract hoards of lice which in experiments have been shown to easily kill off many salmon smolts. Not only that, but lab studies that were done, and mysteriously kept secret, proved that the invasive ISAV salmon virus was in BC waters and has been affecting Wild Pacific Salmon. The BC sport and commercial fishing industry, that rakes in over 400 million in GDP, already has an uncertain future as salmon populations are declining due to the current Fishery Protection Act not being able to protect the current salmon population. It would be logical that weakening this act would put these magnificent salmon, and important economies and cultural practices that depend on these fish, at an even greater risk. Not only would these economies and culture practices be increasingly threatened, but seals, the already endangered southern BC Orca Whale population, eagles, bears, and other fish species that feed on salmon, would also be at risk. Without unpolluted water to swim in and drink, and decreased amounts of marine food, humans would likely be feeling the impact as well.
Here’s a link about the proposed fish lake BC project.
http://www.protectfishlake.ca/lette...-mine-proposal-a-waste-of-taxpayers-money.php
Here’s some links about the endangered south BC orcas and the further declining wild salmon population due to already inadequate habitat protection.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...on-fisherys-decade-of-decline/article1405130/
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Environment/2011/11/30/infectious_salmon_anemia/
http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200410_05_e_14918.html
http://voices.yahoo.com/pollution-water-causing-fish-change-sex-346906.html
http://www.farmedanddangerous.org/salmon-farming-problems/economic-impacts/
http://foodweb.uhh.hawaii.edu/mare 399v/salmon.pdf
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=f3e0b0e8-3336-4bcb-af10-d919a75aa00c
http://www.wwf.ca/conservation/species/sarrfo/killer_whales/
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