Dear Prime Minister:
“In order to determine that and untangle this thing, we feel at this stage that we want action,”
[He called for a judicial inquiry.]
“We want to get some action on this problem while we still have a fishery to protect,” – J. Lunney, MP Nanaimo-Alberni.
“This crisis was inevitable since the DFO and successive Liberal ministers have consistently ignored warnings and advice on the fishery…[and] we do not believe that the DFO should be allowed to supervise the investigation of itself,” – John Duncan, MP, Vancouver Island North.
“Please be assured that we firmly believe immediate action is required to resolve the B.C. salmon crisis.” – Stephen Harper, Prime Minister.
The crisis in Pacific Salmon stocks today is even more dire than when you and your members were able to easily and justifiably take pot shots at the Liberal Government. Why, after expressing such concern over the immediacy of the crisis, has nothing been done now that you have the authority to do so? Your Minister of the DFO is reportedly controlled by senior mandarins while scientists in the department, fearful for their careers, will not speak publicly or truthfully about their concerns for the future of Pacific Salmon stocks, whistle blower legislation notwithstanding. A department that was once held in high regard worldwide is now a disgrace, politicized to a degree that will ensure the collapse of wild salmon stocks as surely as the department mismanaged east coast Cod stocks to extinction.
Sadly, from John Duncan’s quote above, the next Liberal government will only need to change the word ‘Liberal’ to ‘Conservative’ to accurately describe how your government is doing nothing as one of the world’s greatest resources disappears from the face of the planet forever. If you do not want your legacy to be that of the Prime Minister who presided over such a tragedy, you will immediately order a judicial inquiry into the DFO.
Thank you for your consideration.
R. Gordon Persson
Victoria, BC
Comments
One response to “Letter Forwarded to me”
R. Gordon Persson’s letter is interesting.
If beautifully crafted phrases were a sign of organizational competence, the DFO would be high on the list of effective organizations. Alas there is a world of difference between rhetoric and reality.
If a casual reader takes a look at the December 2004 DFO Initial Integrated Risk Management Implementation Guidelines (DFO, December 2004), there is a phrase on the last page that reads.
(Last page (bullet point)
“Risk information need only be shared with those parties who need access to it”.
In other words, the DFO sets out quite plainly that they will define risk, determine who needs access to information and then determine what is released to the public. Rather, as good scientists and administrators, they should look at the evidence, independently assess risk then keep the public informed.
And the DFO wonder why there is a signal lack of public trust in their organization – they appear unaccountable both to the public and our elected representatives.
As I see it.