Prime Minister Chrétien and Premier Clark Announce Agreement on Salmon Conservation, Management
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Premier Glen Clark today signed an agreement on Pacific salmon fisheries designed to create a new partnership between Canada and B.C. in conserving and managing the resource.
Highlights of the agreement include:
- establishment of a Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council of stakeholders to advise both governments on salmon conservation issues;
- creation of a Fisheries Renewal Advisory Board, including stakeholders and community groups, to improve coordination on habitat restoration and enhancement initiatives;
- funding of $15 million from each government over three years for habitat restoration; and
- a commitment by both governments to work cooperatively to reduce overlap and duplication and improve efficiency on all areas of service.
The Prime Minister stated that, "Today's agreement marks a new era of federal-provincial cooperation from which British Columbians can only benefit. Our two governments have found new and innovative ways to do a better job of protecting an important resource and helping a major sector of the B.C. economy. Through the mechanisms we are putting in place our governments, the salmon industry and the stakeholders can now concentrate on working together. A few weeks ago the Premier and I announced we had resolved the B.C. Residency dispute and long standing immigration issues. Together these actions show how much we can accomplish in Canada when we work together with goodwill and a common purpose."
"This is an historic day for British Columbians," said Premier Clark, "because for the first time we are taking a full role in the conservation and management of our Pacific salmon fisheries. The salmon are really a symbol of our province's great natural resources and hold the potential, if properly conserved, of generating new jobs and economic opportunities on our coast. This agreement gives those closest to the resource a voice in conservation, management and, most importantly, enhancement and protection of our stocks. It is more proof that cooperation between our two levels of government can bring real gains for us all."
The Canada-British Columbia Council of Ministers, consisting of the federal and provincial fisheries ministers, will meet at least twice a year to review and coordinate major initiatives related to the management of the salmon resource and its habitat. Among its initial tasks, the Council will oversee stakeholder consultations to put in place a Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, and consider the results of consultations taking place this fall on licensing and allocation policy.
The agreement signed today is a culmination of work begun last July when the Governments of Canada and B.C. agreed, through a Memorandum of Understanding, to a tripartite review of the Pacific Salmon Revitalisation Strategy and a parallel review of roles and responsibilities in the management of the Pacific Salmon fishery. The agreement builds innovative mechanisms for cooperation and coordination while respecting each government's jurisdictional responsibilities.
Copies of the Canada-British Columbia agreement are available on the automated Fax-On-Demand service of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. It is immediately retrievable -- to users with a touchtone phone and a fax machine -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To retrieve, dial 1-416-362-1447 and follow the voice prompts.
PMO Press Office: (613)957-5555
Premier's Office:
Geoff Meggs (250) 387-1718
Jean Wolff (250) 812-2849