So I went and voted today with a very clear conscience.
I have lived in the north island riding for over 17 years.
I do not support open ocean salmon farms. I do not support a handful of people ( who may not even be citizens of this country) owning the halibut that are in the ocean.
I also have seen the erosion of decent paying jobs in our local economy. I know of at least 7 people that now commute between the north island and fort mcmurray for work, my husband included. This does not include the families that I know that have left this area for good!
So honestly, I have seen Duncan ERODE many peoples way of life on the north island. He supports slipper skippers, Norweigen fish farms in our waters and the lack of a good local vibrant economy that was here 15+ years ago.

I want an MP that listens to us, the people that LIVE HERE!

For the record I have never been political, never protested ANYTHING until this year. I simply have had enough of the BS that has been jammed down my throat by the current MP!

GOOD ON YA GAL!!!

I sincerely hope the majority in your area feel exactly the same way! Duncan is being groomed for the next Minster of Fisheries. Given his stance regarding privatization, all of our fisheries would become a NIGHTMARE under his "guidance". We MUST get this Idjut DEFEATED!

Cheers,
Nog

Well said...let's sweep down south and include LUNNEY LUNN in the going away party..YES men add no value to democracy,these guys are only puppets ..We need someone who'll show up for work and DEBATE and cross PARTY lines if there's a better MOUSETRAP.........HP

So what happened? How the heck did that idiot Duncan get back in? I thought we did a good job of educating the locals in his riding about his unethical stance toward our resources. Considering this area is supposed to be the highest concentration of boat owners in Canada, I'm having a hard time figuring out the numbers. Did Harpers visit have that much influence? Someone tell me the ballot boxes were rigged, please.....

The Conservatives played on peoples fears and I guess it worked for them, how depressing. It's unbelievable that we could vote them back in after all the contempt of parliament issues etc, etc. I thought that atleast on the North Island they were out for sure.

Thank goodness people voted based on something more than a halibut. There are bigger fish to fry (pardon the pun). To push out an experienced cabinet minister over one issue makes little sense. Elected officials are in place for a long period and can be influencial on many issues.
Surely you cannot believe that the issue would be fixed by simply throwing one man out.
A newley elected official would have a steep learning curve on just how Ottawa works, never mind overthrowing an established process like fishing quotas.
She would have as much luck doing that as Liz May will have in turning parliment into a respectful place.
I think your far better off now having an experienced person with some influence to chew on to affect a change.

Nonsense. This issue isn't just about halibut, it's about a crown corporation deciding whether you will have the right to access a public resource. You must have an interest in fishing to be posting on this site. Surely you are aware of the consequences of letting the government agencies decide whats best for us all. Talk with somebody who grew up on our east coast and see what bureaucracy has done to their fishery. If you think this can't happen to the west coast, I suggest you attend a few local meetings involving DFO staff. I don't fish halibut per se, but I would not want to see my right to do so flushed down the porcelain drain in Ottawa. Give me some examples of positive action taken by John Duncan during his recent term in office. Would you want him as a Minister of Fisheries?

Your right elections shouldn't be about halibut and that is my point. I am not saying I agree with the current arrangement only that deciding who to vote for is serious business. To suggest we do a change in government and replace it with neophytes is irresponsible.
Fear of repeating the end game on the east coast is understandable and certainly no one wants that. However the blame for that collapse can spread around and to suggest it was the responsibility of one man or even one government is over simplifying the situation just as it is here. It took decades and International treaties, DFO, bureaucrats, and many fisherman that apparantly couldn't comprehend that the resource they were exploiting wasn't infinite, to decimate the resource.
I would rather have someone with experience and connections in the position. Its up to us to hold his/her feet to the fire and hopefully make the changes we desire. To throw that experience out in a temper tantrum is ill advised. This province has experienced the result of that many times in the past. I imagine Quebec will be experiencing that soon enough.
As far as John Duncan's accomplishments are concerned you may want to do a little research yourself and then compare that experience to the person that was suggested as his replacement.
I am just happy that enough people here and across this nation saw the bigger picture.

What bigger picture is that? Short term gain for long term pain? In my view, the bigger picture is exactly what the Conservative government just doesn't get. I just read in the paper today that the DFO was slammed by a federal court judge for obstructive behavior in a trial concerning their failure to protect killer whale habitat. DFO was found to have failed to properly interpret it's own laws. Ecojustice, which represented nine environmental organizations was awarded $80,000 in court costs. So maybe their is still hope for the Halibut issue yet.

Hogwash. Complete and utter nonsense. It is well documented that the halibut fishery is well managed with regards to the TAC. the issue is strictly the division of the TAC that is in question.

This is not a decimated resource.