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B.C. deputy premier supports salmon farming, wants offshore oil and gas moratorium lifted
by The Associated Press
British Columbia Deputy Premier Dan Miller favors increased salmon farming and feels the government should closely consider lifting the offshore oil and gas moratorium.
“I’ve never publicly come out and stated my absolute opinion on aquaculture,” Miller said in a recent interview with the Prince Rupert Daily News.
“I think I’m prepared to now, and I think we should proceed with finfish aquaculture.” Miller said increased fish farming has “the potential to create fairly significant new employment on the coast.”
“There’s been some discussion — very tentative at this stage — with Vancouver Shipyards, who is interested in building sea pens,” said Miller.
“Maybe we could transfer some of those jobs up north. We’ve held a number of discussions on that and my office continues to do that.”
Moe Sihota, minister responsible for public service, said in January that an announcement would be made on salmon farming in February or March.
But no such announcement has yet been made.
Miller, who is also minister of energy, mines and northern development and the area’s legislative member, also said the New Democratic Party government ought to look seriously at the issue of offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling.
A moratorium on oil and gas exploration and drilling north in Hecate Strait has been in effect for almost three decades. The question is how He said he was puzzled by a recent editorial in a Vancouver newspaper that urged the moratorium not be lifted.
“It’s a bit puzzling because I think we ought to look at it. The question is how.”
Miller said it was important to find a way to deal with the issue and not brush it under the carpet because of environmental naysayers.
Estimations are that the majority of the petroleum deposits in the area are in the form of natural gas, not oil.
Tanker traffic, therefore, would be minimal.
“Ships won’t be involved. It’d be a pipeline,” said Miller.
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