Jagmeet Singh slams liberals for failing to protect marine wildlife

After years of neglect by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the Federal Liberals are failing to provide protections for marine wildlife, like the Southern Resident Killer Whale population, and have let salmon stocks continue their drastic decline.

“When our salmon stocks are threatened the entire eco-system is put at risk, as well as the jobs that depend on these stocks,” Singh said. “Now the Liberals are holding these whales hostage, and threatening our entire coastal environment, unless they get what they want. That is unacceptable.”

Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau threatened to cancel the $1.5 billion in funding and protection measures contained in the Oceans Protection Plan if the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion is prevented from going forward.

Late last week environmentalists criticized the Liberal government’s refusal to act as the Southern Resident Killer Whale population has dropped to a critical number of 76 with no new births recorded since 2015.

“Vancouver Islanders know that healthy marine wildlife affects almost all aspects of our lives,” said local NDP MP Alistair MacGregor who represents Cowichan-Malahat-Langford. “Fisheries, trade, tourism, recreation and the local economy all depend on a vibrant coastal environment, and that’s what’s under threat if we don’t act.”