My Decision
When members of the Federal NDP first asked me to run as MP for Vancouver Island North I said “no,” but then I reconsidered. The way I see it the people of our communities, province-wide, are suffering from the same politics as the salmon. I have lived 26 years in an extremely small coastal town called Echo Bay and I saw how political decisions, that we were not a part of, made in Victoria and Ottawa, destroyed us. They took away a small mill from my neighbour, Bill Proctor, and they told us we could not tie our floathouses to the shores of this province, while granting this same right to the industrial salmon feedlots.
As a result, my home is supporting foreign shareholders and not the local communities of Gwayasdums, Kingcome, Hope Town, Echo Bay, Alert Bay and Port McNeill. We have lost our residents, school and a culture is slipping away. Bureaucrats claim we were not worth the paperwork and this is wrong. I would like to fix this, because it is not good for the people, bears, whales or the salmon or the real economy. The real economy is the one that includes us, like wilderness tourism, community forests and many small businesses.
Over 1000 people wrote to me and generously shared their thoughts and supported whatever decision I made. I learned so much and I am very grateful.
I have decided not to run for Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North because every time I spoke people would have to decide if that was the truth as I see it, or the best thing I could say to win votes, support a political party, or work with my caucus. I think my unique contribution to the home that I love is my role connecting the wet and wild world I am part of to people and government.
I am also deeply involved with the Cohen Inquiry into DFO’s management of the Fraser sockeye. This is a powerful process that I want to see through.
The greatest regret I have in making this decision is foregoing the opportunity to work with Members of Parliament Fin Donnelly, Nathan Cullen, Jean Crowder, Denise Savoie and others. These are remarkable people are doing their best to represent us and the natural world that we depend on. I hope that I can be a resource to them and others in the political world.
I am also hoping to support individual candidates across party lines that I think are setting the best course for this province, bringing us into ecological compliance so that we are no longer robbing our children and returning resource decisions and access to the local people who are the wisest and best informed. You can become part of this at wildsalmonpeople.ca If you decide to join me in this we can hold up the ideals we believe in as a non-partisan voting block. It is not good enough to say I hate politics, face it politics are running our lives and it is up to us to get involved. We need to elect us and we need to support or recall politicians in response to how they perform.
I would like to extend thanks to all of you who spoke and wrote to me! What a fantastic 6 days. I was on CBC IDEAS last night
Onward
Alexandra Morton
Comments
7 responses to “My Decision”
Sounds like a WISE decision.
Well thought
through.
Congratulations!
And thanks for sharing the processing.
The CBC interview was wonderful.
I will ask our library to get a copy.
myna lee johnstone
SSI
Alexandra: Many years ago I travelled all of B.C. as a sales representative for the now defunct Harkley-Heywood.
I fell in love with the province but I was repulsed as to how the Native people were looked down upon.
That is how I feel about the Salmon pens and the chaos they are causing for the Canadian dollar that is shipped to Norway.
I believe that your decision not to run and be elbow to elbow with legal thieves and lawyers that cannot make it work so they go into politics and Bamboozle the Canadian public.
Living in Ontario where the bulk of farned salmon are sold retailI would be very interested in the chief food emporiums be presented with the facts of salmon farming and getting hold of the media for the general public to curtail buying farmed salmon. If the farms do not have outlets for this type of salmon they would quickly curtail the pens or at least change the way the pens are used ( closed Tanks,etc.)
Wishing you all the best in all your endeavors.
George Roosevelt
Burlington ON
I’m pleased to hear that you’ve opted to remain out of provincial politics Alexandra – I think you can remain far more potent as a public voice and a force for the community by building on the strong foundation you have now.
I heard your hour on Ideas last night – it was good, now let’s hope that you swayed more Canadians to the right cause.
I agree with the decision not to run for the NDP (or any established party). Good decision. Yours is not an ‘establishment voice’. You and those who support you are different.
Being a human being and caring about your neighbours and your environment should not be revolutionary but, sadly, it is. And that local, green, small-is-better view is the ‘voice’ we need.
So consider starting or running for a new party. Or as an independent. Or speaking out in any way that is honest and true and free. Just don’t compromise the message.
Right now, we can’t count on that from anyone in an established party – even the good ones since they have seconded their constituents, values, principles and humanity to the system they joined.
Thank you. You made the right decision. You are deeper into politics already than I would wish on any friend.
The fight continues, and you’ll be proud to know that you’re becoming somewhat of a celebrity among my students in France.
Thanks for the photo also. I do miss looking down Cramer Pass. It has been too long. See you this summer.
And so it goes….
With love and appreciation,
Kyle H. Martin
Last Resort Lodge
I think you made the right decision.If you get caught up in internal politics, you’ll possibly get silenced by your party or get forced to campaign for things you don’t believe in. Stay independent and as you say support people who believe in you. Again I liked what you said on the CBC the other day, you never stumbled once as you were talking from the heart. Well done!
ferniemtbr
I also believe you have made the right choice as you are free to challenge the system rather than being hamstrung by party agenda. Keep up the good fight.
I do hope your win in getting the Feds to look after the fisheries works out for us and doesn’t end the salmon as they ended the cod.
So many fronts need to be manned and fought glad you are on top of one of the most critical.