John Cummins, M.P. Delta-South Richmond

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: July 19, 1999

Letter to the Editor

July 19, 1999
Letters to the Editor
Vancouver Sun
2250 Granville Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3G2

Dear Editor:

In the article "Cheam native faces salmon charge" July 14, 1999 you report that charges are also pending against 16 members of the B.C. Fisheries Survival Coalition who participated in recent native-only fisheries in the Alberni inlet.

It is misleading to include the threat of charges against commercial fishermen who fished in protest during a DFO sanctioned fishery opening with the possible charges against the native militia who fished for sockeye when fishing was prohibited due to conservation concerns.

As to the matter of charges against the commercial fishermen, the statement is simply false. In a similar protest last August, fishery officers seized fish and nets and threatened to lay charges. No charges were laid. The nets were returned and during the most recent protest, a fishery officer presented me with a cheque in payment for the fish seized last year.

The threat of charges against protesting commercial fishermen is simply an attempt by DFO to protect the illegal native-only commercial fishery. The courts have ruled that the Minister of Fisheries lacks the authority to create these exclusive native fisheries and, that noted, by continuing to "disregard the law" DFO brings the system of justice into disrepute.\

Ongoing harassment of licensed commercial fishermen seeking only to confront David Anderson's disregard of the law makes it abundantly clear that all the thugs in the fishery don't wear bandannas and camouflage gear, some are Ministers of the Crown.

Yours truly,

John Cummins, M.P.
Delta-South Richmond

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For more information, please contact:

John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957