B.C. fishing union critical of Ottawa's plan to buy back Pacific salmon licences
The union representing British Columbia fishermen says a plan by the federal government to buy back commercial salmon fishing licences is underfunded, lacks transparency and doesn't address the investments made by harvesters.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has earmarked $123 million for the voluntary retirement program, plus two future initiatives that will dispose of derelict vessels and allow Indigenous communal licence holders to switch to another species.
The United Fishermen & Allied Workers' Union says in a statement issued Thursday that the program lacks criteria to determine which licences will be purchased, meaning that both active and inactive licences could be bought.
It says inactive licence holders could bring down the price for an active licence during the upcoming reverse bidding process that will see harvesters competing to sell their livelihoods at the lowest price.
The funding for all three programs is part of a nearly $650-million Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative announced last year aimed at trying to help the salmon fishery recover from the effects of climate change, habitat loss and other threats.
The union says the money allocated for the programs will not come close to compensating the commercial salmon fleet for their significant financial investments into licences, vessels and gear.
Instead, the government is offering a gear and vessel disposal program.
While the government promotes the initiative as a way to protect dwindling salmon numbers, the union says its members are “being taken advantage of at our weakest moment.”
“After waiting for DFO to move forward with the license buyback since it was announced alongside the massive set of (Pacific) fishery closures in 2021, harvesters subsequently without viable income are desperate for financial relief and will be low-hanging fruit,” union president James Lawson says in the statement.
“DFO's vision for our future is still unclear, which makes it very difficult for harvesters to make confident decisions.”
The first round of applications for the commercial licence retirement program is due Feb. 28, 2023.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Child under 5 dies of measles in Ontario: PHO
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
NEW Pack the macaroni necklace: Lessons on evacuations from a woman who fled one of Canada's worst wildfires
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age and combats hoaxers
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Wildfires burning across Canada: Communities threatened as flames creep closer
Thousands of residents fled Fort McMurray this week, fearing a repeat of the 2016 wildfire that forced out the entire community and torched more than 2,400 homes.
5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury
Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from “moving wrong” during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores.
Zach Bryan and girlfriend Brianna Chickenfry are 'happy and alive' after 'traumatizing' car accident
Zach Bryan and his girlfriend Brianna LaPaglia were involved in a scary car accident earlier this week, according to LaPaglia, who recalled the experience in a candid video posted to her TikTok page earlier this week.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.