![\"Rachel](\"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/0.jpg\")
<\/a>Rachel Blaney, MP for North Island- Powell river - courtesy her constituency office<\/p><\/div>\n
Over the next 17 months<\/h2>\n
Approximately 1,500 people, many of whom live in\u00a0Campbell River<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Quadra Island<\/a>, will lose their jobs by June 30th, 2022.<\/p>\n On December 17th, the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, announced<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u201cno new fish of any size may be introduced into Discovery Islands.\u201d \u201cFish at the sites can complete their growth-cycle and be harvested,\u201d but \u201call farms be free of fish by June 30th, 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0mayors of Campbell River, Port Hardy, Port McNeill and Gold River<\/a>\u00a0asked to be included in the discussion leading up to this decision, but were ignored.<\/p>\n Rachel Blaney<\/a>, MP for\u00a0North Island- Powell River<\/a>,\u00a0 met with\u00a0Bernadette Jordan<\/a>, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, yesterday.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, I outlined\u00a0 to her how unfortunate it was that she made the decision to help the affected workers and what the economic impact will be. I think the lack of a plan left people in a void. They are concerned about what the future will look like. So what I requested from her was a coordinated approach to the economic realities faced in our region,\u201d said Blaney.<\/p>\n \u201cI outlined the fact that this area has lived through\u00a0a very long forestry strike<\/a>, we\u2019ve had a lot of changes because of\u00a0COVID<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0tourism was really impacted<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you look at that reality, we need to make sure\u00a0 that we have multiple federal departments participating in this. We\u2019ve heard clearly from people that there are opportunities. They need supports to look at those opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwo of the things we\u2019ve heard from people are: better connectivity, so that we can have better internet speeds and increased cell phone reception. And I\u2019ve asked the minister, as well, if the other ministers will be playing a role. There are some key minsters, like\u00a0M\u00e9lanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development<\/a>\u00a0, Ministers\u00a0Monsef<\/a>\u00a0and Baines, who are in charge of the\u00a0Connected Coast project for internet<\/a>,\u201c\u00a0 she continued.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Minister promised me there would be a whole government approach to these challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n Blaney asked Jordan if the new\u00a0Regional Development Agency<\/a>\u00a0might be a possible driver.<\/p>\n \u201cShe did not confirm that, but it is something that I will be pushing hard for.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFinally I raised the important fact we need more initiatives and investments restoring the wild salmon stock,\u201d said Blaney.<\/p>\n She pointed to the recent\u00a0devastation of spawning grounds in Bute Inlet<\/a>, adding, \u201cWe really need to see the wild salmon flourish. We know so many indigenous communities up\u00a0the Fraser River<\/a>\u00a0and in our area, are reaching out for that. So I asked that this be a priority moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Reports of this problem stress the loss of 1,500 jobs. How important are these jobs to the communities of Campbell River,\u00a0Port Hardy<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Port McNeil<\/a>?<\/p>\n She replied, \u201cI think every job is important.\u201d<\/p>\n Blaney remembers the impact forestry closures had on her family, when she was growing up in Northern BC.<\/p>\n \u201cWe lost our house. We had to move to a much smaller home. It was very stressful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI deeply respect that there were seven nations in a nation to nation consultation, but now we have to come together and find solutions because when you are one of those people wondering how you are going to afford your mortgage, how can you even begin to think of anything else,\u201d said Blaney.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why I am really calling on the minister. I told her this is a substantive investment that you have to make. We need to focus on wild salmon and restoration. We need to make sure that indigenous communities are included, that small local communities are consulted and that they are part of the process.\u201d<\/p>\nThere will be a whole government approach<\/h2>\n
Need to invest in wild salmon stocks<\/h2>\n
How important are these jobs?<\/h2>\n
Priorities going forward<\/h2>\n