For the second day running, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham assured the legislature that a review of provincial lab research on fish farming was prompted by the federal government.
“So, first of all, I want to emphasize that it was the department of fisheries and oceans who called some of our data into question,” said Popham. “We would take that very seriously because these are the partners that we work with as we look at fish pathology.”
She was responding to questions from the B.C. Liberals who’ve branded Popham “the minister of intimidation” for her handling of a dispute over fish farming off the northern end of Vancouver Island.
The Liberals went after Popham this week over what happened when First Nations called for the firing of fish pathologist Dr. Gary Marty over his findings that fish farms pose no decisive threat to wild salmon.
Popham initially responded to the call by telling reporter Randy Shore of The Vancouver Sun that she regarded the allegations as “strong” and twice promised an “investigation.”
Vaughn Palmer – Vancouver Sun – October 25, 2017.