FIN IN THE HOUSE: William Shatner goes to bat for wild salmon

BRYN WEESE PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU

If -- or when -- William Shatner becomes Canada's next governor general, it's safe to say he'll put his vice-regal resources towards saving B.C.'s wild salmon.

The 79-year-old Canadian-born actor teleported (sorry, telephoned) his support from Los Angeles Thursday behind NDP MP Fin Donnelly's private member's bill to tackle the problems of fish farming on the West Coast.

When the federal government assumes control of regulating the B.C. aquaculture industry in December, the result of a B.C. Supreme Court ruling overturning the feds' downloading of the task to the province nearly 20 years ago, Donnelly wants the government to force fish farms to move to contained tanks within five years.

Currently, mostly Norwegian firms operate the West Coast fish farms in open pens in the ocean and rivers. The pens routinely
break, sending less hardy and diseased farmed salmon into the natural habitat, which experts warn harms the wild populations.

"It is all our duty, all concerned people of the world let alone concerned citizens of Canada, to harbour our resources and to make them whole and to keep them from being desecrated," said Shatner, who played Capt. James Tiberus Kirk in the original Star Trekseries.

"The fauna and the flora of the British Columbia river shores and rivers are nurtured by the salmon. Without the salmon, they die."

Shatner admitted he doesn't know Donnelly personally, but respects what he's trying to do.

"Anybody who is trying to do something about as basic a species as salmon must be listened to," Shatner said. "And if something positive can come from Mr. Donnelly's bill, I urge everybody ... to help with it."

A recent Facebook group calling for Shatner's appointment to Canada's governor general post has more than 44,000 fans.

The move has even been endorsed by Leonard Nimoy, who played the Vulcan sage, Spock, on the iconic space-travelling series.

Nimoy tweeted in April, "Bill: You're being considered for Governor General of Canada. Do it! Finally a chance to do something with your life. llap (live long and prosper)."

But Shatner -- as do most governor generals -- didn't take any questions from the media Thursday, hanging up from Los Angeles right after he made his impassioned speech to save the B.C. wild salmon.

Shatner said he became aware of the issues facing B.C.'s wild salmon "a few years" ago while filming on Vancouver Island.

"My rage is against companies that have no conscience about what they're doing and that the bottom line is the only thing they think of," he said. "What we must do is ensure that the farmed salmon do not destroy the wild salmon."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to announce Governor General Michaelle Jean's replacement this summer when the Queen is in Canada. Jean's five-year term ends this fall. ILLUS: photo of WILLIAM SHATNER Governor General?