I accept that it will not be a magical change. I see enormous work ahead. But we do have the Fisheries Act, which is a powerful toolbox.
Because in 1993 provincially licensed aquaculture was exempted from all the regulations surrounding fishing in Canada, they were protected from using those lakes. They were protected from having wild fish in their pens, from destroying habitat. Somebody put up a shield between this industry and the federal government. Well, I'm hoping that shield will come down.
Honestly, I don't think the Norwegian industry can survive that. I think they will leave. But there's a Canadian industry that is trying to grow here, and I just learned in December that the provincial government would not even meet with these people who are farming salmon and other species on land in fresh water. They have a website called aquaculturebc.com, and they're trying to grow.
For me, the solution is to apply the Fisheries Act full bore on this industry, and if it can't survive, I think the Norwegians, frankly, should go home, because they've just been bullies. Let the Canadian industry grow, and for the people whose jobs are going to be damaged when these Norwegians leave, give them an opportunity to do what they know how to do, which is to grow fish. Work with this Canadian industry. Then you will have an industry that's in the towns. And the money will stay here; it will not go to shareholders. There will be some real salaries instead of the low wages on these farms. You will get your wild salmon, too. This is what will work for these little towns.
The government told me fish farming was good for my town. We have 29 big Norwegian salmon farm sites. Our school is closed now. There are nine people left in my town. It was not good for us. They don't want to hire local people. They're very secretive. All the first nations chiefs and the tourism operators in my area ever said to the industry was to please move over and not go on the major migration routes. But the provincial government allowed them onto the major migration routes, and that's why we're in the mess we are in today.