Other News

Boldly going where science fails to dazzle

The Record June 30, 2010

Biologists, environmentalists and politicos of various stripes have been saying for years that open-net fish farming is causing problems on B.C.'s coast - and they can produce the science to back up their concerns.

So you wouldn't think Fin Donnelly would need to go elsewhere looking for endorsement of his efforts to change the fish farming system.

Actor helps city MP fight to have fish farms moved onto land

By John Kurucz, special to The Record June 12, 2010

Hollywood Bill, meet federal bill.

Legendary Canadian actor William Shatner lent his support Thursday to a private member's bill put forth by New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly, one that would force all fish farm operators off the B.C. coast to move to closed containment within five years.

CELEBRITY
from the GLobe and Mail
GLORIA GALLOWAY

As Captain Kirk, he often lectured his crew to respect life and not to take things for granted. So it seemed appropriate, if a tad surreal, to hear William Shatner lecture reporters on the importance of salmon to British Columbia's ecosystem. "Salmon feed and nurture not only the animals that are on the land but the sea as well, and the plants and trees and shrubbery," the 79-year-old actor's disembodied voice told a news conference Thursday that had been organized by the New Democrats.

NPD urges extended sick benefits
PETER ZIMONJIC, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU\

The federal NDP wants the Conservative government to extend employment insurance benefits to people suffering from chronic or long-term illnesses such as cancer.

People already get 15 weeks of EI sick benefits but NDP MP Fin Donnelly says that needs to be extended to 52 weeks and is introducing a private member's bill to compel the federal government to act.

It's about time we all stood up and demanded changes to fish farming

dcreid@catchsalmonbc.com
D.C. Reid, Times Colonist

NDP tables fish farm bill
By Colleen Kimmett May 5, 2010 02:58 pm
From The Tyee

Federal NDP fisheries critic Fin Donnelly introduced a bill in the House of Commons today that would require B.C.'s fish farm operators to move to closed containment systems.

Closed containment, as opposed to farms where fish are contained in a net in the ocean, provides a barrier between fish and the ocean environment. This method of fish farming been proposed as a way to both control the escape of farmed salmon and the spread of disease to wild salmon.

Add your voice to petition

from The Royal City Record

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Dear Editor:

Something is happening in British Columbia this week. People from all over the province are lining up to sign the initiative petition against the harmonized sales tax (HST) set to be implemented on July 1 by the federal Conservatives and the B.C. Liberals. I will be standing with them.

Over the next three months, I will be knocking on doors across our community collecting signatures. The HST has found opposition from all sides of the political spectrum.

From the World Journal; translated from the Mandarin

Calligrapher Wang Xizhi once said “you should examine yourself daily. If you find faults, you should correct them. When you find none, you should try even harder”.

In Canadian politics, the issues are not always cut and dry. Rarely is one party always right or always wrong.

It is through dialogue and debate that we often strike a balance and ensure that all views are included, or at least listened to.

Northwest MPs give Enbridge a firm ‘NO’

The cross-province pipeline is too environmentally damaging, MP Nathan Cullen and Fin Donnelly said. Instead, greener alternatives should be sought.

Houston-Today
Published: March 31, 2010 5:00 AM

NDP MPS have drawn a line in the sand by introducing a private member’s bill in Ottawa that if passed and if implemented would ban oil tankers from the north coast, effectively stopping any move by Enbridge to ship Alberta oil sands oil through its planned $4.5 billion Northern Gateway Pipeline.

Lawsuit in pipeline, Enbridge foes say
Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist

Massive opposition by First Nations to Enbridge's proposed pipeline from Alberta to Kitimat means a lawsuit is likely if the project proceeds, lawyers from West Coast Environmental Law warned yesterday.

An unprecedented alliance of more than 150 First Nations, environmental groups, unions and businesses significantly increases legal risks and uncertainty facing the Enbridge project, said Jessica Clogg, executive director of the group.