Ottawa denies provincial minister’s claims about fish farm complaint
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham’s claim that a complaint by the federal government prompted her to launch an investigation of provincial scientists is not accurate, according to information from Ottawa.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued a denial Tuesday that it was the source of concerns raised about the quality of provincial fish farm research and scientists, as Popham has told the legislature repeatedly.
“Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not made any official complaints to the province of B.C. regarding the diagnostic work undertaken by the province’s Animal Health Centre,” the department
said in statement.
The statement contradicts Popham, who several times Monday and Tuesday told the legislature she launched a review of the quality of scientific research inside her ministry because DFO had complained.
“I want to emphasize that it was the Department of Fisheries and Oceans who called some of our data into question,” Popham told the house.
“We would take that very seriously because these are the partners that we work with as we look at fish pathology.”
The DFO denial also undermines days of defence Popham has attempted to craft.
Popham’s recent conduct as minister has been the subject of intense criticism after she wrote a threatening letter to a coastal fish farm operator and publicly stated she had placed a government scientist under investigation because he was the subject of complaints by First Nations who wanted him fired.
“It’s very concerning,” Liberal environment critic Peter Milobar said. “Here we have DFO telling a completely different story than the minister has told for a few days in the house now, and I think the public has the right to get an answer from the minister that truly conveys what’s going on.”
After the DFO’s original denial, and following an intervention from the premier’s office late Tuesday, the federal agency revised a subsequent statement to say it “welcomes” Popham’s review, even if it did not officially complain on behalf of the federal government.
Popham’s problems started last week after she told Postmedia News her ministry was investigating provincial fish pathologist Gary Marty’s research, following complaints from First Nations who wanted him dismissed. Marty wrote a 2015 report that refuted claims that fish farms pose a significant risk to wild salmon.
On Monday, Popham backtracked from her claims of an investigation into Marty after the Opposition Liberals asked her to provide details on why the civil servant was under investigation, who was conducting the review, what terms of reference governed the probe, and whether he could be fired. The Liberals accused Popham of political interference for targeting a government scientist.
Instead, Popham shifted to claim Marty was part of a larger review of research at the provincial lab, spurred by a complaint from the DFO about data quality.
“I’d like to reiterate there is no individual in the lab at the Ministry of Agriculture that is under investigation,” she told the legislature Monday.
“But when DFO raises concerns about our research, we take it seriously, as any lab who believes in integrity would.”
“The information that we provide to the DFO fish health audit program, it needs to be based on science,” Popham also said during question period on Monday. “We are verifying research produced by our Animal Health Centre to ensure that we’re making decisions based on science.”
Late Tuesday, Popham’s ministry admitted in a statement that it had received nothing in writing from the federal agency.
“The complaints from the agency have been verbal,” Agriculture Ministry spokeswoman Meghan McRae wrote in an email when asked to provide any record of communication between B.C. and the federal agency.
McRae pointed to an Oct. 14 CTV W5 story in which DFO scientist Kristi Miller was quoted as saying she believed Marty was either in a real or perceived conflict of interest because he has conducted research with coastal fish farm company Marine Harvest. A spokesperson in the premier’s office said Popham and Miller had a subsequent conversation on Oct. 17 to expand upon her concerns. The DFO later confirmed that conversation, which outlined Miller’s concerns, was unofficial.
“While DFO has not lodged an official complaint, the B.C. government is being diligent in following up on the concerns raised by Dr. Miller,” the federal agency said in its statement late Tuesday.
Neither Popham nor Miller could immediately be reached for comment.
The DFO has a memorandum of understanding with B.C. to test farmed salmon samples until March 31, 2020.