MP’s Press Trudeau Lib’s For Mussel Funding

Two Conservative MP’s from the Okanagan are calling on the Trudeau government to get on board efforts to stop the spread of invasive mussels

Mel Arnold of the North Okanagan-Shuswap and Dan Albas of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola have written to the Environment, Public Safety and Fisheries ministers, saying the risk of an infestation into local lakes, and the potential costs tied to that, warrant immediate federal action.

“In 2016, mandatory vessel inspection stations were put in place through a partnership between
the Province of British Columbia, the Canada Border Services Agency and BC Hydro,” says Arnold. “While this program prevented 15 contaminated vessels from entering BC this summer, BC’s Ministry of Environment recently acknowledged that nearly one in five drivers fail to stop for an
inspection.”

Albas says zebra and quagga mussels could also pose a serious risk to salmon stocks.

“Here in British Columbia, the federal government is responsible for the management of salmon stocks and action is desperately needed to protect this important resource for our local communities, including First Nations.”