Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing-related Issues & News => Topic started by: chris gadsden on October 26, 2009, 06:08:54 PM
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Hello All
Good News Finally! Peter Julian, Member of Parliament – New Westminster has just launched a petition for a Judicial Inquiry into the Fraser sockeye crash.
CONSIDER THIS: If there had been a Judicial Inquiry into the declining North Atlantic cod, we would have rebuilt that fish stock by now because we would have discovered that the critical research by Dr. Ransom Myers of DFO was being suppressed by DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans).
Here we are again. DFO is completely silent, they have not even acknowledged that the Fraser sockeye crash pattern is extremely specific and provided the media with misinformation.
A judicial inquiry will place people under oath so they can be heard over the politics.
Please go to Peter Julian’s website: http://peterjulian.ndp.ca/node/864
And download the petition document, and sign: http://peterjulian.ndp.ca/sites/default/files/Petition_A%20call%20for%20an%20independent%20judicial%20inquiry%20on%20salmon%20crisis_October%202009.ENG_.pdf
This has to be a paper copy, there can be 1 signature on a page, or a full page of signatures, the address is on the document and postage to the federal government is free.
You cannot say you care about wild salmon if you don’t make this effort. This will make a very big difference in the future of BC and the eastern pacific.
Alexandra Morton
Www.adopt-a-fry.org
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Excellent!
I'll be sending off my hard copy.
Remember it's to the feds so it doesn't cost you any postage, just a piece of paper and and envelope!
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I'd like to see some of our resident fish farm proponents backing this inquiry and putting their money where their mouths are. This is great news, I hope enough people sign and submit.
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I'd like to see some of our resident fish farm proponents backing this inquiry and putting their money where their mouths are. This is great news, I hope enough people sign and submit.
Would someone in Chilliwack print off some copies and take them into Fred's Tackle and Chilliwack Dart and Tackle and be responsible for monitoring them and picking them up and sending them in. I would but I will be away for a few days. Also others in other communities could do the same. Please let us know who would be able to do so and what place they will see if the shops will take some. That way we should not have duplication
Thanks
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Hey Chris, I'll take care of Chilliwack Dart and Tackle. Gord.
Thanks very much Gord.
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thanks for the info, I'll be sending mine soon
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Good stuff Chris !!
I have emailed the petition form to nearly 20 business associates and friends who fish for salmon locally.
I plan on taking it around my neighbourhood as well.
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Already filled mine out, and explained the situation to all of my office mates.
They've all added their names to my hard copy as well.
Tex
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Things have to start somewhere - I've printed off a copy myself and have a few of my colleagues signatures as well. Shall be posting it this weekend.
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Good stuff all and thanks for getting them in the two Chilliwack shops Gord.
As the Coq. was closed this am because of snow I did not head East so I got the petition in Kent Outdoors in Agassiz today. As far as getting them in I think the best is to monitor the shops and places you have them and when a sheet is filled mail it in to Julian's office. Remember no postage needed.
It would be good if you post how many names you get and when you mail them in. The sooner we get them the better but lets aim for getting most of the names as possible by the end of November and see how it has gone by that date.
Thanks to all that are helping with this.
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Had the whole famdamily sign it. >:(
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Had the whole famdamily sign it. >:(
me too
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I dropped a copy off at Reaction this afternoon.
Seems like a good showing so far :)
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I dropped a copy off at Reaction this afternoon.
Seems like a good showing so far :)
Thanks for covering this. Anyone close to Berry's Bait and could handle that shop?
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If Rodney is willing to make a trip over. I can have a few hundred copies made up by noon.
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If Rodney is willing to make a trip over. I can have a few hundred copies made up by noon.
That would be great, thanks very much.
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What... I haven't agreed to anything. :-\ I'm trying to keep my H1N1 away from everyone else so best for me to come into the shop later on this week. ;D
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What... I haven't agreed to anything. :-\ I'm trying to keep my H1N1 away from everyone else so best for me to come into the shop later on this week. ;D
Did you give it to me from the other day even though I kept a rod lenght away from you but I have your cough now too. ::)
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One page of signatures sent in the mail this morning.
Very good Gord.
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Hello All
Good News Finally! Peter Julian, Member of Parliament – New Westminster has just launched a petition for a Judicial Inquiry into the Fraser sockeye crash.
CONSIDER THIS: If there had been a Judicial Inquiry into the declining North Atlantic cod, we would have rebuilt that fish stock by now because we would have discovered that the critical research by Dr. Ransom Myers of DFO was being suppressed by DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans).
Here we are again. DFO is completely silent, they have not even acknowledged that the Fraser sockeye crash pattern is extremely specific and provided the media with misinformation.
A judicial inquiry will place people under oath so they can be heard over the politics.
Please go to Peter Julian’s website: http://peterjulian.ndp.ca/node/864
And download the petition document, and sign: http://peterjulian.ndp.ca/sites/default/files/Petition_A%20call%20for%20an%20independent%20judicial%20inquiry%20on%20salmon%20crisis_October%202009.ENG_.pdf
This has to be a paper copy, there can be 1 signature on a page, or a full page of signatures, the address is on the document and postage to the federal government is free.
You cannot say you care about wild salmon if you don’t make this effort. This will make a very big difference in the future of BC and the eastern pacific.
Alexandra Morton
Www.adopt-a-fry.org
Thanks Chris--- you beat me to the posting--- Also there will be a pile of petitions @ the BC Federation of Driftfishers Fundraising Dinner on Nov 14 in Coquitlam if anyone else is going to be there they can sign on while there---- Cheers Leigh
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Thanks Chris--- you beat me to the posting--- Also there will be a pile of petitions @ the BC Federation of Driftfishers Fundraising Dinner on Nov 14 in Coquitlam if anyone else is going to be there they can sign on while there---- Cheers Leigh
good stuff Leigh.
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Three more pages of signatures in the mail this morning.
Nicely done.
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Mailed a page of signatures yesterday that I got from my co-workers after explaining the situation to all of them. They all signed without hesitation.
Tex
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Mailed a page of signatures yesterday that I got from my co-workers after explaining the situation to all of them. They all signed without hesitation.
Tex
Looking good, thanks. I hope more people are taking the time to do the same.
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I'll take a copy in to work mon. I know everyone will sign.
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I'll take a copy in to work mon. I know everyone will sign.
Thanks, looks like we are getting a good number of signatures thanks to the members of this forum. ;D ;D
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I'll take a copy in to work mon. I know everyone will sign.
doing the same
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I hit the upper Vedder and got 2 1/2 more pages this morning, they"ll be in the mail Monday am.
You are really on a mission Gord. ;D ;D Excellent work on this.
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Done deal:
Federal inquiry into salmon disappearance to be announced
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Ottawa will convene a judicial inquiry to investigate the disappearance of sockeye salmon from the B.C. Fishery. Trade Minister Stockwell Day to announce details of the inquiry Friday.
http://www.canada.com/news/national/Inquiry+into+salmon+disappearance+announced/2188822/story.html
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And More:
ovember 5, 2009
Announcement of Judicial Inquiry Gives Hope for Future
OTTAWA- "The establishment of a judicial inquiry into the management of
the Fraser River sockeye fishery gives new hope for the future of a
great salmon river," said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-Richmond East).
The Fraser River and its sockeye fishery are part of the lifeblood of
British Columbia, a symbol of the province and have come to define the
province and its people.
We face a disaster of epic proportions on the Fraser. In six out of the
last eleven years the fishery has been closed. Tens of thousands of
B.C. families have suffered as a result.
Clear warning signs of an impending environmental disaster are evident.
The crisis has moved well beyond the old disputes over who gets what
percentage of the total allowable catch; it now is the very survival of
the species that is at risk.
"Fraser sockeye must not be allowed to go the way of the Atlantic cod.
The announcement of this judicial inquiry shows a Prime Minister
committed to resolving this environmental challenge to the Fraser River
sockeye and taking the necessary steps so that it is again the world's
greatest sockeye river," said Cummins.
Environmentalists and fishermen must be able to bring forward evidence
of what has happened. Departmental officials must be able to come before
the inquiry without fear of punishment. A judicial inquiry will empower
the a justice of the B.C. Supreme Court to impartially hear the
evidence, call testimony under oath and make recommendations to ensure
the future of the fishery.
"If we are to avert an environmental catastrophe on the Fraser, we must
be able to find out what happened and to ensure that mistakes are not
repeated. Only a judicial inquiry will get the job done," concluded
Cummins.
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Thanks to all that helped out with the petition as it certainly did not hurt. I would still send the ones in that you have collected as Julian will still be pleased that many took the time to help get the Judicial Inquiry going. Thanks once again to one and all the signed one, worked on getting the petition signed with family, friends and in the shops. ;D ;D I will collect mine from the shop I took it to, tomorrow.
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--Does anyone know the name of the lowest paid government official dealing with sockeye? I'm sure after all this they will be the one who is fired!
--We need to keep the pressure on to ensure all things considered and some good comes out of this. As I wrote my MP about the issue some time ago I will again write and thank them for supporting this initiative. (whether they did or not)
--We need to work toward solutions rather than blame.
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I just picked up the copy from Reaction. Not as many signatures as I had hoped but I'll send them in anyways.
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I did manage to send off 6 1/2 pages of signatures.
Well done Gord, we all thank you for your dedication to the campaign.
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Cohen named to lead sockeye inquiry
B.C. Supreme Court justice will conduct wide-ranging examination of province's fishery
By Scott Simpson, Vancouver SunNovember 7, 2009
For the fifth time in 29 years, British Columbia's wild salmon will be the subject of a formal government inquiry.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cohen was named on Friday by Trade Minister Stockwell Day as the commissioner for a wide-ranging inquiry into the collapse of Fraser River sockeye salmon populations.
Previous investigations took place in 1980, 1992, 1994 and 2004 -- without a single, constructive outcome, Grand Chief Doug Kelly, a political executive with the First Nations Summit, commented.
Kelly said in an e-mail to the Vancouver Sun that the federal government might be wiser to give the Department of Fisheries and Oceans the money and staff to carry out its vaunted Wild Salmon Policy than to launch another inquiry.
Failing that, Kelly hopes the commission's terms of reference will be structured in a way that guarantees a recovery of the fish, including a focus on aquaculture impacts, and recognition of the role that Fraser salmon play as a food source for first nations along the river's sprawling drainage.
Day pegged the value of the salmon industry, aboriginal, commercial and sport, at $500 million a year and said Fraser sockeye were one of its cornerstones, and that the fish had additional social and cultural impacts.
"The commissioner will have the full range and capabilities to conduct this inquiry under the inquiries act," Day said in Vancouver. "He will be able to call to witness any person that he feels will be able to be helpful in terms of looking for the reasons for this decline and also what might be done to mitigate this in future."
Day said there are no restrictions on Cohen's investigation and details on the directions provided to him by government confirm that.
The government's directive on the inquiry calls for an overall focus on conservation of Fraser sockeye "without seeking to find fault on the part of any individual, community or organization."
Cohen is directed to examine DFO's management practices, its science, forecasting, enforcement and stock assessment regimes.
The Tories are also asking him to make findings on the causes of the decline, something DFO itself has avoided doing other than to suggest marine survival rates of juvenile sockeye are in decline.
Cohen is also directed to make recommendations for improving the future sustainability of the Fraser sockeye fishery.
"There has been an alarming decline in the return of sockeye to the Fraser River," Day said. "This is very concerning not just to the people of British Columbia but to our prime minister, and in fact it has broad implications well beyond our province."
A brief search of B.C. Supreme Court judgments indicates Cohen has not presided over any of the major, precedent-setting fisheries cases heard by the court over the past two decades.
He has, however, dealt with lesser cases involving first nations fishing rights, degradation of fisheries habitat and a business dispute involving a salmon farm.
Cohen has a strong interest in environmental issues. He was co-chair of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice annual conference in Vancouver in 2006, which focused on sustainable development and the law.
Cohen also served on the committee that selected the agenda and speakers for that conference, where keynote speakers included former federal fisheries minister John Fraser -- who himself in 1994 chaired an inquiry into the plight of Fraser salmon.
Cohen also served on the electoral boundaries commission struck in 2005 by the government of B.C.
The only apparent constraint is that hearings not take place during the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver. Cohen must submit an interim report to the federal government by Aug. 1, 2010, and the final report by May 1, 2011.
ssimpson@vancouversun.com
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