Ron Cantelon new BC Minister responsible for aquaculture
In a move that should be positive news for the fledgling BC aquaculture industry, the provincial government announced on Friday that the MLA from Nanaimo-Parksville on Vancouver Island is the new Minister for Agriculture and Lands, which also includes aquaculture. Mr. Cantelon was a Deputy Chair of the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture which was established by Premier Campbell in February, 2006. In its final report, the Committee- dominated by the opposition NDP party- recommended in May of 2007 that all finfish farms in the province should be transitioned to some form of closed-containment technology- yet to be developed. It also called for a ban on new farms north of Vancouver Island. Cantelon voiced his disagreement with these and other recommendations contained in the report, which is still gathering dust in Victoria.
The following release appeared on the BC government web site on Friday;
Premier Gordon Campbell today announced the appointment of Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon as Minister of Agriculture and Lands. “Ron Cantelon has provided tremendous service to the people of British Columbia as an MLA and I want to thank him for taking on this position,” said Premier Campbell. “Ron has played an important role in the development of agriculture and aquaculture policy and his experience will help advance government’s priorities in this important area.”“Agriculture, aquaculture and the management of Crown lands play an important role in British Columbia’s economy and I look forward to carrying on the great work of ministers such as Stan Hagen,” said Cantelon. “There is tremendous diversity and quality in British Columbia’s agriculture products and more and more people are taking pride in buying locally grown food.”The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is responsible for agriculture; aquaculture; food industry development; animal health and crop protection; food safety and quality; allocation of Crown land; commercial fisheries and fish processing; aquaculture licensing and regulation; soil management; weed control; crop insurance as well as the Integrated Land Management Bureau. The ministry is also responsible for the BC Farm Industry Review Board, Agriculture Land Commission, BC Wine Institute and Muskwa Kechika Advisory Board.Cantelon was elected on May 17, 2005 in the riding of Nanaimo-Parksville. He has previously served on the B.C. Agriculture Plan Committee and the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture. He currently serves as chair of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth and as chair of the Committee to Review the Personal Information Protection Act. He is also a member of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, the Special Committee of Selection, Treasury Board and the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development.
