When Watershed Watch conducted a survey of British Columbians to understand how people valued salmon, 89% of respondents told us that laws meant to protect salmon habitat should be more strictly enforced, and 86% of those surveyed agreed that economic growth and development should not come at the expense of wild salmon habitat.
Over and over again, at community events, clean-ups, and canoe tours, I've heard concerned citizens express their frustrations that their leaders are not acting with the urgency that climate change and other threats require.
The federal government has jurisdiction over fisheries. Its responsibilities go beyond just the provisions of the Fisheries Act. There are other important roles the federal government plays, including, importantly, funding. The work done under the Fisheries Act can be impaired or undone through other government decision-making or simply inaction. That means that to truly regulate and protect the fisheries of Canada, work needs to be done to link infrastructure funding to prepare for a changing climate, protect habitat, and ensure fish-friendly waterways that give salmon a chance to survive.
It is imperative that waterways behind dikes are treated as fish habitat. To attain this goal, we strongly recommend establishing a salmon and dike fund as an interim measure until fish-friendly flood control practices become the norm through legislation and policy.
It's important that we take steps to restore what was lost, not just protect what's left. It's equally important to recognize the ecosystem as a natural asset that needs to be nurtured, maintained, and invested in just like any other infrastructure.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity to present to the committee. We'll be happy to address any questions later.