NEWS RELEASES
JOHN FRASER GIVEN SPECIAL DUTIES ONPACIFIC SALMON DISPUTE
April 18, 1996 No. 74
JOHN FRASER GIVEN SPECIAL DUTIES ON
PACIFIC SALMON DISPUTE
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced in co-operation with
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Fred Mifflin that John Fraser, Ambassador for the
Environment and Sustainable Development, will assume special responsibilities to
advance Canada's interest in resolving the Pacific salmon dispute. He will meet
with Canadian and U.S. stakeholders and decision makers and advise ministers on
possible avenues to resolve the impasse.
Mr. Fraser's new responsibilities will build on Canadian government efforts
including consultations with B.C. stakeholders. Last month, the Fisheries and
Foreign Affairs Ministers sent their Parliamentary Secretaries, Ted McWhinney and
Francis Leblanc, to consult with interested parties in British Columbia in advance
of Mr. Axworthy's trip to Washington. The Government of Canada has stayed in
close contact with the Government of British Columbia on this issue.
When Mr. Axworthy met with Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Secretary of the
Interior Bruce Babbitt and National Security Advisor Tony Lake in Washington March
27 and 28, he stressed the importance of resolving the dispute over the Pacific
Salmon Treaty, and he proposed binding arbitration to the U.S. on the equity
principle of the Treaty. The equity principle outlines how salmon stocks, which
migrate through the waters of both countries, should be shared. We need full
implementation of the Treaty to ensure long-term conservation of the resource.
"Settling this dispute with the United States is a Canadian government priority,"
said Mr. Axworthy. "We must continue to try new ways to work together to manage
and conserve this important natural resource. Mr. Fraser will strongly represent
Canadian interests and assist our search for a solution to this problem."
Mr. Fraser, a former Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and past Chair of
the Fraser Sockeye Public Review Board, has been effective in dealing with complex
and sensitive environmental and fisheries issues. As former Speaker of the House
of Commons, he brings to his new responsibilities a reputation for sound judgment,
which will help him to advance the Pacific salmon issue.
"We must resolve this dispute now to preserve the long-term well-being of the
salmon resource and to ensure that Canadian fisheries sectors and coastal
communities thrive and prosper," said Mr. Mifflin. "The appointment of Ambassador
Fraser is further evidence of the Government's commitment to achieve effective
implementation of the Treaty."
Canada initiated major conservation measures in recent years, including a fifty
percent cut in the chinook salmon harvest in 1995. Last month, Canada announced
that at current forecast levels of abundance there will be no commercial fisheries
for Fraser River sockeye in 1996. Unless the U.S. also agrees to a substantial
reduction of its 1996 harvest, the survival of chinook stocks off the west coast
of Vancouver Island is seriously threatened.
Mr. Fraser's appointment will be an important part of Canada's advocacy and public
awareness campaign in response to the recommendations of the B.C. stakeholders.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Bonnie Mewdell
Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
(613) 992-3474
Bill Morrell
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
(604) 666-0646
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