Carrier Sekani Tribal Council

The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council brings together seven member nations to unify our voices and strengthen our inherent indigenous rights, title, and interests in our territories.

Fisheries

CSTC, DFO, Inch Hatchery, and Local First Nations Team Up For Fish Release

(Unceded Territory of Lheidli T’enneh First Nations – July 6, 2021) After over 10 years of low returns for the Early Stuart sockeye salmon run, hope may finally be on the horizon for a resurgence. With the aid of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Inch Creek Hatchery, and the Takla and Tlazt’en First Nations, 60,000 sockeye smolts were released on June 8 in Gluskie Creek to help rebuild the salmon population.

Sockeye smolts released in Gluskie Creek

While the Early Stuart sockeye run has been low for over a decade, the Big Bar landslide in 2019 further endangered the species’ migration routes and population. This encouraged the Big Bar Landslide Response Team, a collaboration of DFO, The Province and First Nations, to team up with Inch Creek Hatchery and First Nations Groups from the Spawning grounds to help improve the population. Over 60,000 eggs were taken, fertilized, hatched and raised at the Inch Creek Hatchery in Dewdney, B.C. Once the smolts had reached 10 months of age, Inch Creek Hatchery brought the smolts up to Middle River to release the fish at Gluskie Creek. Representatives from Takla Lake First Nation, Tl’azt’en Nation, CSTC and DFO attended the release.

Kayleigh Patrick, Kimberely Alec, and John Alec Sr. looking over the release with DFO officer Kevin Laarman

The hope is that a portion of these 60,000 smolts will return in 3 years as full-sized salmon to breed and help raise the fish population. With easier passage through Big Bar, good ocean conditions and the right environmental conditions during migration, we should see an increase in the fish population for years to come.

To save endangered salmon, scientists use 20-year-old frozen sperm (CBC News)

“In an effort to restore dwindling salmon stock, the Spruce City Wildlife Association (Facebook Page) has partnered with the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council in Prince George to use 20-year-old cryogenically frozen salmon sperm to fertilize salmon eggs”.

Christina Ciesielski, fisheries program manager for the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, said it decided to try using the salmon milt it had been storing for 20 years after having it tested for motility and discovering it was still 80 per cent viable.  

Click the hyperlinks to read the full article from CBC News or to listen to the interview on CBC Radio West with Sarah Penton starting at 31:12 up until 37:16 where Ciesielski discusses how CSTC is working to save endangered salmon.  

For more information or questions on CSTC’s efforts to save endangered salmon please contact the Fisheries Program Manager at (250) 562-6279

Carrier Sekani Tribal Council Opposes the Unnecessary Destruction of Thousands of Endangered Nechako

Dakelh Territory, Prince George:  The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is extremely disappointed in the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations’ (FLNRO) planned decision to cull up to 6,000 Nechako White Sturgeon which have been bred and raised as part of a recovery initiative at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre in Vanderhoof.

FLNRO has recently informed the CSTC of its intention to halve the number of white sturgeon to be released from the facility in Vanderhoof; from 12,000 to 6,000. As a result, FLNRO is planning to destroy thousands of sturgeon ready to be released to accommodate this rushed decision and alleviate perceived risks of overstocking of the Nechako River.

The CSTC and FLNRO have been engaged in a discussion of options to avoid the cull, which is considered highly culturally inappropriate from the Carrier Sekani perspective. Options have been identified that are scientifically sound, including providing the fish to a commercial aquaculture facility, or stocking them into suitable local lakes in the Nechako watershed, where they could support a fishery. Consideration of these viable options has been obstructed by the inflexibility of the Species at Risk Act permitting that prohibits their use for matters unrelated to recovery; ironically the Act intended to protect the fish requires their destruction.

FLNRO’s purported decision is being made without meaningful and timely consultation with CSTC and the Carrier Sekani First Nations (CSFNs), in the face of CSTC and the CSFNs’ strenuous objection to the cull, and in breach of ss. 8.1(b) and (f) of the Environmental and Socio-Cultural Initiatives Agreement that the CSTC, CSFNs, and Province signed in April 2015.

At this time the CSFNs have engaged in government-to-government negotiations with BC and have requested that the BC government and FLNRO honor our work toward shared decision-making and stewardship. Tribal Chief Teegee states, “unless we agree on an annual rearing and release plan and/or contingency plan, we’re likely to find ourselves in a similar position in coming years, which is unacceptable.”

Nechako River White Sturgeon is listed as an Endangered species under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. Following the impoundment, diversion and regulation of the Nechako River, this species has suffered a “recruitment failure” (an insufficient number of juveniles survive to maturity to propagate and sustain the population). The population has declined to the point where extinction is inevitable without human intervention. A multi-party Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (NWSRI) has worked for several decades in an effort to reverse the declining population trend and save the species.

http://darac.sg-host.com/wp-content/uploads/2017-04-07_press_release_Sturgeon.pdf

Mount Polley

All FNHA updates on Mount Polley to date are available online here:
http://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/mount-polley-mine-communiques-and-press-releases

First Nations Fisheries Council-Press Release-Mount Polley

Friday, August 15, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PDF – BC First Nations devastated by recent Mount Polley disaster

First Nations Health Authority-Mount Polley Mine-Communique

August 12, 2014
PDF- Mount Polley

Quotes from the livestream press conference

“all results came back meeting the requirements of BC and Canadian drinking water standards.” (MOE rep)

“testing that was done is very re-assuring” (Medical Health Officer for the interior region).

2 – Test results and explanation from MOE today.

All FNHA updates on Mount Polley to date are available online here:
http://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/mount-polley-mine-communiques-and-press-releases

CSTC Grateful for Fish: Fraser First Nations Unity

CSTC Grateful for Fish: Fraser First Nations Unity

PDF Version

July 26, 2013

Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia.  Canada. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) would like to extend its gratitude to the St’at’imc Government, Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (NSTC) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for the recent delivery of approximately 200 Early Stuart sockeye that were seized in the St’at’imc (Lillooet), and Nlka’pamux (Thompson in the Lytton area) territories.  The CSTC has distributed this important fish resource to elders, disabled and families in need.  The CSTC member First Nations are at the headwaters of the Upper Fraser and have been working with First Nations in the Fraser watershed to conserve the Early Stuart salmon runs, as they are an important subsistence food fish for Carrier Sekani peoples.

Tribal Chief Terry Teegee stated, “’Mussi Cho! to our cousins along the Fraser.  We were able to provide some of our Elders, disabled and families in need with some important food fish.  We are grateful for the support and quick measures taken by NSTC and DFO to ensure that our people could benefit from a dwindling fishery.”  The seized salmon were transported from Prince George to Tache village by Tl’azt’en fisheries monitor Mellisa Pierre, where she had distributed the fish in her community. “This couldn’t happen without quick planning and I also want to thank Tl’azt’en Fisheries Program Manager Darren Haskell and Fisheries Monitor Mellisa Pierre, as well as Tl’azt’en representative on the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFFCA), Thomas Alexis, who assisted in getting the salmon to their destination to Nakal Buhn (Stuart Lake)” stated Chief Teegee.

For several years the CSTC and its member First Nations have been working with First Nations along the Fraser to conserve the Early Stuart fishery, including closures, until such time that that fishery can recover.  Earlier this year the CSTC began discussions with First Nations regarding an inter-tribal protocol to guide the annual development of an Early Stuart Management Plan.   The CSTC is supportive of collaborative initiatives that seek to ensure that fisheries and natural resources are protected and conserved for current and future generations.

“We will continue to work to protect and rehabilitate habitat in the Upper Fraser.  The cumulative impacts from various sources are stressing the Early Stuart sockeye runs, including human fishing practices,” said Tribal Chief Teegee.  He added, “The St’at’imc, NSTC and DFO did a great job in dealing with a difficult situation.  The CSTC is committed to working with First Nations along the Fraser River to ensure that conservation and closure measures are respected and secure.  Losing the Early Stuart sockeye is not an option for our, or future generations.”

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Media contacts: Tribal Chief Terry Teegee:  Office (250) 562-6279.  Cell: (250) 640-3256

Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia.  Canada. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) would like to extend its gratitude to the St’at’imc Government, Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (NSTC) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for the recent delivery of approximately 200 Early Stuart sockeye that were seized in the St’at’imc (Lillooet), and Nlka’pamux (Thompson in the Lytton area) territories.  The CSTC has distributed this important fish resource to elders, disabled and families in need.  The CSTC member First Nations are at the headwaters of the Upper Fraser and have been working with First Nations in the Fraser watershed to conserve the Early Stuart salmon runs, as they are an important subsistence food fish for Carrier Sekani peoples.

NSTC Fisheries Witness and Assist with transfer of fish bound for northern communities

PDF Version

NSTC – Wednesday, July 21, 2913 – The Northern Shuswap Tribal Council through Fisheries Department Manager, Gord Sterritt, made arrangements for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans personnel from Lillooet and Prince George to transfer approximately 200 Early Stuart sockeye that were seized in St’at’imc (Lillooet) and Nlka’pamux (Thompson in the Lytton area) traditional fishing area.

The St’at’imc and Nlka’pamux made the arrangements with the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, in Prince George, to have the Early Stuart sockeye delivered to them for distribution amongst their members. In a St’at’imc Government services press release sent to NSTC by St’at’imc Fisheries Manager Janice Billy, the St’at’imc wrote:

‘The Early Stuart Run continues to be a stock of concern, and we will not fish this run until we are assured it is sustainable. Every fish counts. Historically, the St’at’imc Chiefs maintain a strong stance of conservation in support of the Early Stuart Run. While our responsibilities of conservation are the utmost important aspect for this run, unfortunately this mandate continues to not be respected by some individuals. As a result Department of Fisheries and Oceans charges are being laid and over 200 Early Stuart fish have been seized.’

The NSTC member Bands and their community members have also respected the closure of the Early Stuart sockeye run, for conservation purposes and to allow the First Nations from Prince George and to the northwest to the Stuart and Takla Lake region to be able to catch their food fish.

Williams Lake Indian Band councillor Willie Sellars, Stswecem’ Xgat’tem First Nation’s chief, David Archie and band councillor Allan Adams were on hand with Gord Sterritt at the tribal council office to assist with and to
witness the transfer of fish.

Also on hand to witness the transfer were Yvonne Smith, NSTC Executive Director, and Charlotte Morrow, NSTC Fisheries Coordinator.

For more information contact:
Gord Sterritt at the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council, by phone at (250) 392-7361 or by e-mail G.sterritt@nstq.org.

NSTC – Wednesday, July 21, 2013 – The Northern Shuswap Tribal Council through Fisheries Department Manager, Gord Sterritt, made arrangements for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans personnel from Lillooet and Prince George to transfer approximately 200 Early Stuart sockeye that were seized in St’at’imc (Lillooet) and Nlka’pamux (Thompson in the Lytton area) traditional fishing area.

Cohen recommendations to protect Fraser River Salmon require immediate implementation by DFO

Cohen recommendations to protect Fraser River Salmon require immediate implementation by DFO
News Release. October 31, 2012

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver) – On Wednesday, Oct 31st, Honourable Bruce Cohen released his recommendations for improving the sustainability of Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Fishery. Commissioner Cohen recommended a number of changes to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans policies, practices and management in relation to the sustainability of the Sockeye Fishery.

Chief Bob Chamberlin of Kwicksutaineuk/Ak-Kwa-Mish Tribes and Vice-President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs responded “Commissioner Cohen made 75 recommendations with respect to the protection and conservation of wild salmon and the UBCIC calls on the Federal Government to make the necessary investments in the protection of wild salmon on par with the money invested into the aquaculture industry. As illustrated by Cohen, the Federal Government cannot be promoting the aquaculture industry while at the same time mandated to protect wild salmon. Put simply, DFO is in a conflict of interest and needs to immediately freeze fish farming and put the wild salmon policy into effect.”

“Harper’s agenda is clear, through recent omnibus legislation, the Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act and Bill C-45: Jobs and Growth Act the Harper Government has effectively eviscerated the Fisheries Act. The Harper Government cannot ignore this call by Justice Cohen, First Nations and others to ensure the sustainability of the fishery,” stated Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. “First Nations rely heavily on the salmon fishery and the continued mismanagement and gutting of the protection measures is not only troubling but will ultimately lead to the complete decimation of the salmon stocks. Wild Salmon is the sustenance of our people and part of First Nations and BC Heritage and must be protected.”

Chief Chamberlin concluded, “Ignoring the protection and conservation policies with respect to wild salmon particularly the wild salmon policy is akin to abandoning the salmon and blatantly disregarding constitutionally protected Aboriginal Title and Rights with respect to the salmon fishery. The Federal Government must immediately implement Cohen’s recommendations and take steps to make the necessary investments to ensure that a collapse of the salmon run does not happen again.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chief Bob Chamberlin, (778) 988-9282
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, (250) 490-5314
The UBCIC is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

UBCIC News Releases and Current Events can be found here.

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver) – On Wednesday, Oct 31st, Honourable Bruce Cohen released his recommendations for improving the sustainability of Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Fishery. Commissioner Cohen recommended a number of changes to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans policies, practices and management in relation to the sustainability of the Sockeye Fishery.

Cohen Commission Report: CSTC Must Be Involved

Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
News Release
October 31, 2012

PDF Version
  
Cohen Commission Report: CSTC Must Be Involved

Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada.  Today Justice Bruce Cohen released the much anticipated report from the Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River (also known as the Cohen Commission).  Over the last three years the Cohen Commission heard from 179 witnesses, including First Nations from Carrier Sekani territories regarding the cumulative impacts affecting the decline of the Fraser River Sockeye (Dakelh name: Talo).

Tribal Chief Terry Teegee said, “Talo is extremely important for the survival and well-being of Carrier Sekani peoples.  We are the stewards of the headwaters of the Nechako and Fraser basins.  We will be closely examining the 75 recommendations brought forward from the Cohen Commission to ensure that the Crown upholds its responsibility to protect fish and fish habitat for future generations.” He continued, “There is no single cause for the decline in Fraser River Sockeye Salmon, however the CSTC agrees with Commissioner Cohen that the recent federal amendments to the Environmental Assessment, and Fisheries Acts are very troubling.  The Harper government is selling our resources and expects industry to be responsible stewards.  No way. This is unacceptable and counterproductive.  Carrier Sekani First Nations must be part of recovery and management plans.”

“The CSTC will be joined by other First Nations and Canadians voicing our perspectives on ensuring that high risk threats like oil pipelines/tankers, fish farms and over fishing are minimized or stopped.  Just like the mountain pine beetle infestation, a main source of the Fraser Sockeye decline was climate change.  It is the elephant in the room that no one is dealing with.”  Climate scientists predict that the mean annual global temperature will rise between 2-5 degrees Celsius over the next 90 years. 

The CSTC also supports the wild salmon policy and all efforts directed at incorporating the meaningful, government-to-government decision-making of First Nations to ensure that fisheries and other resources are managed properly.  “We depend on the salmon, and the salmon depend on us.  We hold the responsibility to ensure that salmon habitat is protected and has an opportunity to recover”, stated Tribal Chief Teegee.

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For further information contact:
Tribal Chief Terry Teegee, RPF: 250-562-6279; Cell 250-640-3256

The Cohen Commission Report is available at: http://www.cohencommission.ca

Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada.  Today Justice Bruce Cohen released the much anticipated report from the Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River (also known as the Cohen Commission).  Over the last three years the Cohen Commission heard from 179 witnesses, including First Nations from Carrier Sekani territories regarding the cumulative impacts affecting the decline of the Fraser River Sockeye (Dakelh name: Talo).

Nechako sturgeon forgotten in battle over northern gateway

Nechako sturgeon forgotten in battle over northern gateway

Province appears to have abandoned fight to save the endangered fish

By Stephen Hume, Vancouver Sun

October 12, 2012 3:02 AM

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Nechako+sturgeon+forgotten+battle+over+northern+gateway/7379831/story.html

Nothing exemplifies the apparent confusion of our reigning provincial government regarding the Northern Gateway pipeline project more than the paralytic seizures its own environmental policies induce.

Take the case of the endangered white sturgeon in the tributaries, lakes and main stem of the Nechako River watershed, which enters the Fraser at Prince George, about 800 kilometres north of Vancouver.

Back in 2008, when Barry Penner was environment minister, he championed a $1.5-million grant to support conservation efforts for the much diminished Nechako white sturgeon population.

A comprehensive recovery plan for the endangered Nechako stocks – a genetically distinct sub-species of the Fraser River population – has been in the works for seven years. It was to be ready by 2009. But it still hasn't been implemented, Canadian Press reported last month.

The white sturgeon, the largest freshwater species in the province, is one of nature's wonders. It can live more than a century and reach enormous sizes.

A 500-kilogram specimen caught and released by British sports angler Michael Snell on the lower Fraser last summer generated newspaper headlines around the world. Another, landed from the Fraser about a century ago, topped 816 kilograms in weight and six metres in length. But they've been severely abused throughout their range in Canada and the U.S.

In the 1890s, the American white sturgeon population collapsed after being commercially harvested for a few years in one of history's more disgusting greed fests. British Columbians were little better. We, too, indulged in a 35-year orgy of overfishing starting in 1880.

Then dams on the upper Columbia River ravaged sturgeon habitat in the U.S. and B.C.

The last hope for North America's largest fish was the Fraser, where the fishery was closed in 1994 and the river, although polluted and modified, remains relatively wild and free flowing.

“The Nechako white sturgeon population is the most endangered sturgeon population in B.C., and they need our help,” Penner said in 2008.

He had an unassailable point. The Nechako had been subjected to massive changes from a dam providing power to an aluminum smelter at Kitimat. Government fish biologists estimated fewer than 400 adults survived of the Nechako's historic population of 8,000.

Now, sensitive sturgeon habitat could be threatened again. The proposed pipeline would cross sturgeon rivers carrying more than half a million barrels of gooey, toxic diluted bitumen from Alberta's oilsands to a tanker terminal to be built at Kitimat.

One provincial government news release in 2008 noted that most of the surviving fish in the Nechako are now already more than 40 years old, the age at which females reach sexual maturity and begin to spawn, However, it warned that while white sturgeon spawn only every five to ten years, the natural death rate for such a population is about eight per cent per year.

Since Penner and the government's enthusiastic endorsement of recovery strategies, the white sturgeon population is now estimated at a scant 335. The simple arithmetic of decline is sufficiently ominous that alarm bells should be ringing.

So where's the province when it comes to arguing the case for the beleaguered Nechako sturgeon at the public hearings into the environmental impacts of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, which entered their final phase this week in Prince George?

Nowhere, argues the NDP's feisty young environment critic Rob Fleming.

While government was only too happy to take credit for sturgeon protection, issuing media releases by the sheaf, posing for dozens of photo ops and shovelling out tax dollars for the worthy cause, when it's actually come time to stand up for the imperilled species, it's vanished from the scene.

“Having spent all this money and done all this work, why have the Liberals failed to present this evidence to the joint review panel? By not presenting the evidence they help the pipeline project,” Fleming says.

He has a good point. Political theatre is not leadership. Promises are useless if they don't translate into action. And the endangered sturgeon population now requires a serious advocate in our government, which has a moral and ethical duty to protect the fish on our behalf.

shume@islandnet.com

Nothing exemplifies the apparent confusion of our reigning provincial government regarding the Northern Gateway pipeline project more than the paralytic seizures its own environmental policies induce. Take the case of the endangered white sturgeon in the tributaries, lakes and main stem of the Nechako River watershed, which enters the Fraser at Prince George, about 800 kilometres north of Vancouver.

CSTC Supports Lawsuit to Protect Species at Risk

CSTC Supports Lawsuit to Protect Species at Risk

(PDF Version)

Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is supporting the recent legal action taken by environmental groups against the federal government's failure to implement the Species at Risk Act (SARA).  The lawsuit challenges the delays in creating recovery strategies for SARA listed species, including the Nechako white sturgeon, which is critically endangered according to the BC Conservation Centre. 

Tribal Chief Terry Teegee stated, “Our people have been aware of the decline in Nechako white sturgeon for decades.  The CSTC is actively involved in fisheries monitoring and protection.” Teegee added, “The CSTC supports any action taken to protect endangered species.”  The lawsuit covers 188 species recover plans that have been delayed by the federal government, four of which will be directly impacted by the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline project.

“The federal government has been negligent on implementing its own laws to protect species at risk from industrial development, at the same time it has slashed the processes needed to assess environmental impacts from such projects like the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline.”  Stated Tribal Chief Teegee.

The recovery initiative for three of the four species impacted by the Enbridge pipeline project are at least three years overdue.  “First Nations must be part of developing these recovery initiatives, as well as be involved in the monitoring and enforcement within their own territories.” Said Tribal Chief Teegee.  He added, “We have a sacred responsibility to ensure that the environment is protected for current and future generation.”

The CSTC is also an active member of the Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative (NWSRI) that is a collaborative effort among government, First Nations, conservationists and industry to understand the decline of Nechako White sturgeon; there are less than 300 left. 

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For further information contact:
Tribal Chief Terry Teegee, RPF: 250-562-6279; Cell 250-640-3256

Link to Notice of Application – Nechako White Sturgeon.  http://www.ecojustice.ca/files/notice-of-application-sturgeon-filed-20120925/at_download/file

Youtube Video about Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhrEJUEi-ow&feature=player_embedded#!

Read our latest Fisheries Report. Lho Dustl'us. Vol. 7, Issue 1. March 2012.
http://darac.sg-host.com/wp-content/uploads/fisheries/2012MarchLhoDustlus.pdf

Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is supporting the recent legal action taken by environmental groups against the federal government's failure to implement the Species at Risk Act (SARA).  The lawsuit challenges the delays in creating recovery strategies for SARA listed species, including the Nechako white sturgeon, which is critically endangered according to the BC Conservation Centre.

Sockeye panel fishes for feedback on planned Tory changes

Sockeye panel fishes for feedback on planned Tory changes
By Peter O'Neil, Vancouver Sun; Postmedia News
May 2, 2012

The federal government's bid to make sweeping changes to the Fisheries Act has prompted an 11th-hour scramble at the $26.4-mil-lion Cohen Commission, which was created by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2009 to study dramatic declines in the West Coast sockeye fishery.

Senior commission counsel Brian Wallace sent a letter to all hearing participants – including governments, industry, first nations, and environ-mentalists – late last week asking them to submit by May 14 their views on how the budget bill affects their previous positions on the state of B.C.'s top fishery.

The letter was in response to the Conservative government's tabling of a 431-page omnibus budget-implementation bill that includes Fisheries Act amendments that would, according to critics, “gut” key provisions to protect fisheries habitat.

Justice Bruce Cohen's commission published a technical report in February 2011 that described the federal legislation's habitat-protection pro-visions, first established in 1976, as “Canada's primary legislative tool” and an “effective backbone” to protect sockeye habitat.

The government's new bill “contains proposed changes to a number of pieces of legislation relevant to the work of this commission,” said Wallace's letter, provided Tuesday to Post-media News.
Wallace, noting that Bill C-38 was tabled as the commission “is nearing completion of its work,” said there are no plans to reopen evidentiary hearings on the effect of the bill. But he offered participants the opportunity to provide “supplementary submissions” no later than May 14.

Craig Orr, chairman of the Pacific Marine Conservation Caucus – made up of conservation and environmental groups such as the David Suzuki Foundation – said Bill C-38 is a “game-changer” that will necessarily affect the commission's work.

“I think this act does change how Cohen must view the ability of the federal government to effectively protect fish habitat in B.C. and across Canada and thus strikes at the heart of what this federal inquiry is trying to sort out,” he said.

The current law prohibits Canadians from engaging in any activity “that results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat.” The proposed new wording is far narrower and focuses on economic fisheries, banning “serious harm to fish that are part of a commercial, recreational or aboriginal fishery, or to fish that support such a fishery.”

The federal government's bid to make sweeping changes to the Fisheries Act has prompted an 11th-hour scramble at the $26.4-mil-lion Cohen Commission, which was created by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2009 to study dramatic declines in the West Coast sockeye fishery.