United in Support for BC Salmon Farmers and Canadian Food Production

On Seafood

Ottawa, ON, May 4, 2023 - National agricultural and food associations across Canada are united in calling for the federal government to support BC salmon farmers as an integral and growing part of Canadian food production. A joint letter has been addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, opposition leaders, various relevant federal ministers and all provincial premiers calling for support.​

INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM

Federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray is very soon expected to present options for the B.C. salmon farm transition framework to the federal cabinet.

Government decisions have shut down 40% of salmon farms in B.C. since 2020, making groceries more expensive for Canadian families, increasing carbon emissions and wiping out jobs that are the lifeblood of rural, coastal and Indigenous communities.

These shutdowns were not based on science but on politics and claims by activists that salmon farms are harming wild salmon, which has been proven false through rigorous peer-review science evaluation processes under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Simply put, we need to grow more food in this country to feed Canadians and the world and continue to grow it better. Grounded in evidence-based policy, it is Canada’s obligation to deliver the best, sustainable, high-quality and affordable food to Canadians, while also growing jobs, driving economic growth and supplying this food to the world.

Signatories to the joint letter include Animal Nutrition Association of Canada, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, Canadian Aquaculture Suppliers Association, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canada Grains Council, Canadian Meat Council, Canola Council of Canada, Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship, and CropLife Canada.


Sheri Beaulieu,CAIA, for further information
Marketing & Communications Manager
sheri.beaulieu@aquaculture.ca


JOINT LETTER

May 4, 2023
The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
80 Wellington St
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A3

Re: Support BC Salmon Farmers and Canadian Food Production

Dear Prime Minister:

Farmers feed Canadian families. The modern, sustainable, in-ocean BC salmon farming sector is an important part of the Canadian food production and farming community.  Canadian salmon farming supports over 14,000 Canadians and their families for jobs and economic livelihoods, and produces high-quality and sustainable protein meals to millions  of people in Canada and around the world.  

Salmon farming touches all aspects of Canadian farming and food production, including food retail and service, food banks, food processors, feed manufacturers, and grain growers. Over 3,000 distinct companies supply the salmon farming sector and its economic activity supports the critical infrastructure of many coastal, Indigenous, rural and urban communities. Canadian salmon feed companies purchase close to $150 million annually from Canadian grain and protein suppliers, supporting a circular economy with the potential  for significant value-add growth. 

To date, recent government actions have shut down 40% of BC salmon farming production. Your government continues to consider actions that could result in further reductions,  despite the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ peer-reviewed science that says there is minimal or negligible effects from salmon farms on wild salmon. You have said many times  that science and evidence will form the basis of policy and regulation under your government and we remind you of your commitment.

Prime Minister, we need to grow more food in this country to feed Canadians and the world and continue to grow it better. Grounded in evidence-based policy, it is Canada’s obligation to deliver the best, sustainable, high-quality and affordable food to Canadians, while also  growing jobs, driving economic growth and supplying this food to the world. We appeal to you to support BC salmon farmers as an integral and growing part of Canadian  food production.

Sincerely,

Melissa Dumont
Executive Director
Animal Nutrition 
Association of Canada 
Timothy Kennedy 
President & CEO
Canadian Aquaculture 
Industry Alliance
Ryan Brush
Chair
Canadian Aquaculture 
Suppliers Association
Keith Currie
President
Canadian Federation of 
Agriculture
Erin Gowriluk
President & CEO
Canada Grains Council
Chris White
President & CEO
Canadian Meat Council
Jim Everson
President & CEO
Canola Council of Canada
Dallas Smith
Spokesperson
Coalition of First Nations 
for Finfish Stewardship
Pierre Petelle
President & CEO
CropLife Canada
CC: 
Hon. Pierre Poilievre, P.C., M.P., Leader of the Official Opposition
Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and 
Communities
Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, P.C., M.P., Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Hon. Harjit S. Sajjan, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Development and Minister 
responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada 
Hon. Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability 
Inclusion
Hon. Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Indigenous Services
Hon. Jean-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P., Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic 
Development
Hon. Karina Gould, P.C., M.P., Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Hon. Seamus O’Regan Jr., P.C., M.P., Minister of Labour
Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P, Minister of Official Languages and Minister 
responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Hon. Mary Ng, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Trade
Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P., Minister of Natural Resources
Hon. Joyce Murray, P.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Hon. Mark Miller, P.C., M.P., Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Hon. Gudie Hutchings, P.C., M.P., Minister of Rural Economic Development
Hon. Doug Ford, M.P.P. Premier of Ontario
Francois Legault, M.N.A. Premier of Quebec
Hon. Tim Houston, M.L.A. Premier of Nova Scotia
Hon. Blaine Higgs, M.L.A. Premier of New Brunswick
Hon. Heather Stefanson, M.L.A. Premier of Manitoba
Hon. David Eby, M.L.A. Premier of British Columbia
Hon. Dennis King, M.L.A. Premier of Prince Edward Island
Hon. Scott Moe, M.L.A. Premier of Saskatchewan
Hon. Danielle Smith, M.L.A. Premier of Alberta
Hon. Andrew Furey, M.H.A. Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Hon. Caroline Cochrane, M.L.A. Premier of Northwest Territories
Hon. Ranj Pillon, M.L.A. Premier of Yukon
Hon. P.J. Akeeagok, M.L.A. Premier of Nunavut
Jagmeet Singh, M.P., Leader of the New Democratic Party
John Barlow, M.P., Shadow Critic, Agriculture and Agri-Food
Taleeb Noormohamed, M.P., Chair BC Liberal Caucus
Clifford Small, M.P., Shadow Critic, Fisheries & Oceans
Hon. Pam Alexis, M.L.A., Minister of Agriculture and Food (BC)
Hon. Katrine Conroy, M.L.A., Minister of Finance (BC)
Hon. Nathan Cullen, M.L.A., Minister of Water, Lands and Resource Development