Justin Trudeau names Bernadette Jordan to role.
On Twitter, Novia Scotia native Jordan announced she was delighted with the role which is the federal lead for safeguarding waters and managing Canada’s fisheries, oceans and freshwater resources.
The department is also responsible for aquaculture (including salmon farming) licences, regulations, statistics, reporting, science and research.
I am honoured that @JustinTrudeau has entrusted me with the responsibility of serving as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. I look forward to working with MPs of all stripes to advance on the important work of @FishOceansCAN and @CoastGuardCAN.
— Bernadette Jordan (@BernJordanMP) November 20, 2019
Earlier this year when she was appointed the inaugural minister of rural economic development and became the first woman representing Nova Scotia in the federal cabinet.
Jordan has not announced any plans how she will continue the Liberal party pledge to phase open-net salmon farms to closed containment systems by 2025.
She did agree however to table a petition in 2016 to legislate the removal of caged salmon from Canada’s oceans.
However, Jordan’s agreement to sponsor the petition was not necessarily an endorsement, her staff told South Coast Today.
““A petition is a great way for constituents to have their views officially tabled in the House of Commons and to receive a government response and I am happy to assist in that part of the democratic process.
“I have heard from and met with a number of community and industry stakeholders on the issue of open-net salmon aquaculture. I and will continue to work with them and my colleagues in Ottawa to find ways forward that serve the economic interests of South Shore-St. Margaret’s and address environmental concerns.
She replaces Jonathan Wilkinson who was overseeing the implementation of a new farm-free migration corridor to help reduce harm to wild salmon in the Broughton Archipelago, will mean that at least 17 sites could be gone by 2023.
