Saanich South MLA Lana Popham said she wants to keep working with all stakeholders in her capacity as minister of agriculture after opponents of fish farming occupied her constituency office.

B次元官网网址淚 want to be clear,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e hear and understand the concerns being raised by First Nations and members of the public.I am committed to continuing to work with First Nations, the aquaculture industry, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to ensure B.C.B次元官网网址檚 aquaculture sector is environmentally sustainable and respects First NationsB次元官网网址� rights while continuing to provide good jobs for British Columbians.B次元官网网址�

Popham issued those comments Thursday afternoon after a group of some 30 people identifying themselves as Fish Farms Out Now! occupied PophamB次元官网网址檚 office in solidarity of several First Nations, Occupiers have said that they will not leave u

The docks lie within the traditional territories of the (including DzawadaB次元官网网址檈nuxw, KwikwasutB次元官网网址檌nuxw HaxwaB次元官网网址檓is and Gwawaenuk), B次元官网网址楴amgis and Mamalilikulla First Nations.

Popham, who is responsible for fish farms, was not at her office during the protest, which organizers said would last for three hours, starting from 11:30 to 2:30 p.m. Popham later promised through a constituency office staff that she would talk to them. This promise however did not appear to satisfy them as many, if not all, said they would stay beyond 2:30 p.m.

Critics say commercial fish farms growing Atlantic salmon threaten local populations of Pacific salmon, a historical food source for First Nations.

ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 protest also framed the future fate of fish farms as a litmus test for the provincial government as protesters passed out flyers hat quoted promises by prominent cabinet members including Premier John Horgan himself to contain, if not phase out fish farms.

B次元官网网址淟isten Lana Popham, it is time for you to stop them,B次元官网网址� they chanted at one stage in voicing their protest against the practice of fish farming.

Popham said in her release that the NDPB次元官网网址檚 government B次元官网网址渋s deeply committedB次元官网网址� to protecting wild salmon stocks. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 essential to our economy, to our province, and to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 First Nations,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cohen Commission aimed at protecting sockeye salmon in the Fraser River.B次元官网网址�

Waving placards of various kind inside, the youthful protesters also tried to generate attention by hanging several banners outside of PophamB次元官网网址檚 office near the intersection of Quadra Street and McKenzie Avenue.

But perhaps the most effective reaching an audience was through social media, with protesters sharing pictures and videos.

Popham later praised the protesters for being respectful and peaceful. B次元官网网址淚 have no problem with respectful protests,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he occupiers even did the dishes before they vacated the premise. CanB次元官网网址檛 get much better than that.B次元官网网址�