BC salmon farmers point to Transition as an example of Trudeau's waste

Salmon farmers in British Columbia have seized the opportunity to attack the policies of under-pressure Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from his government.

The move stunned Canada, deprived Trudeau of a key cabinet ally, and raised fresh doubts over his political survival. One political commentator called it a “clear rebuke of the prime minister”. Trudeau has since been reported to be on the verge of stepping down.

Freeland quit yesterday after Trudeau said he wanted to install a different finance minister. In her resignation letter, Freeland said that she had been at odds with Trudeau about the best path forward for Canada. Faced with threats of 25% tariffs from incoming United States president Donald Trump, Freeland said Canada had to hold on to its money in case of a tariff war, instead of spending it on what she described as “costly political gimmicks”.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) was quick to describe Trudeau’s plan to “transition” BC salmon farming from net pens to closed containment - which consultants have costed at CAD 9 billion - as one such gimmick.

'Reckless actions'

“The government’s reckless actions exacerbate our ballooning debt and stagnant economy as Canadians face rising living costs, higher food prices, and a weakening Canadian dollar. The estimated CAD 9 billion taxpayer-funded cost of phasing out the BC salmon farming sector is another example of costly political gimmicks over sound economic policy,” wrote the BCSFA.

“Despite clear scientific evidence, the decision to ban current marine net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia by 2029 is driven by political motivations rather than long-term, responsible planning. This policy ignores the real-world consequences for thousands of workers, First Nation communities, and the broader economy.”

Five-year licences

In June, salmon farmers in BC were granted five-year licences for their sites. They won’t be renewed when they expire in mid-2029. Only land-based or floating closed containment facilities will be considered for nine-year licences, which many industry observers feel are not a long enough period to guarantee a return on the massive investment that would be required.

Other problems facing remote communities that rely on net pen salmon farming is that they don’t have the power infrastructure required for land-based facilities, and that anyone developing a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) salmon farm would most likely do so closer to a large population centre, such as Vancouver.

“The BCSFA calls on the Trudeau government to rethink this reckless course of action and work directly with Rightsholder First Nation communities to find a path prioritising job creation, economic growth, and long-term sustainability. It’s time for the government to listen to workers and communities dependent on this sector and their own public service rather than bowing to political pressure from anti-salmon farming activist groups,” said the BCSFA.