The Liberals are something else, and that 'something' is Kakistocracy

Yes. What we worked so hard to build as a nation is gone because Liberal de-Enterprise took power from Canadians.

Yes, we lose our health care, and our cities will be patrolled by U.S. military, and our governments will be shut down, and our resources will no longer fund our way of life.

We are an illusion as a country anyway. The weather makes it impossible to keep the illusion alive. One crop per year, 7 months frozen, Canadian populations huddle close to the U.S. border, as close as possible. A few huddle around Maple trees gather syrup for trade. A few run pipes deep underground to get oil for a real economy in the U.S.. All the prattle about how great it is, not really, unless you're tough enough to play hockey, and lucky enough to avoid the Lawyer criminals scuttling down the streets, diverting ambulances. This isn't a fuck you Canada. It's a statement imploring pragmatism about what's happening here. If India has a reverse of population, as China has, as the whole world has, believe me, Canada won't be the first choice of any immigrants anywhere in the world.

Why? Mainly because the Liberal Party back room boys (and girls) are criminals, who put a gaping hole in the treasury for themselves, while we get the Two Randys, and Rainbow Trudeau, and Bungy Guilbeault, and our money disappears, and our resources are locked in, and our energy is slipped out the back door.

Meanwhile the criminals made the drugs flow, the hospitals fail, the organs available, and made people lose political choice; there is no election, there is no Opposition, there is nothing but other countries laughing, and threatening to walk in and take over.

 Why did this happen? Because Liberals fell to criminals. Could there be another reason? Not one as obvious as this. Because people in power put Trudeau in office.

It becomes obvious to the world the Prime Minister is an unwelcome presence in a government in Canada which has no moral compass, and no legitimate place in governance.  These Liberals haven't won an election since 2015. 

Here we are with a foot in the door of 2025, and the Liberals are somehow running government.  That is something else. A collective criminals, low-lifes, and incompetent people cling to power by any means possible.  

Why have Canadians fallen to the criminals? Lawyer criminals  graduate law school to be better criminals provide a rotten untenable foundation atop which they put a drama teacher in charge of Canada. 

What motivates criminals? Greed. More than power, they want to own everything, and having a dead-from-the-neck up Prime Minister opens the taxpayer's vault to the criminal syndicate stealing power. Owning everything is actually possible when you have a whole National Treasury at your disposal.

That's what this federal government amounts to. A mob of greedy criminals and their associates is called a Kakistocracy. You're living it. Look it up. It's ugly. You know it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakistocracy

These criminals have been destroying as much as they can for decades, because they are greedy. And I see what they have done.  I see them. I see their face. I see their deeds. I see their greed. 

And they are Liberals. They are federal Liberals. And they are criminals. And while they may never serve a day in prison for their murder, theft, and endless injustice, they do not belong in government any further. 

These people need to be extinguished from political power. Canada needs honest government restored, now. 

🚨 Former head of the Wikimedia foundation and current CEO of NPR, Katherine Maher: “The Wikipedians who write these articles aren’t focused on finding the truth. For our most tricky disagreements, seeking the truth isn’t the best place to start. Reverence for the truth might… pic.twitter.com/5Biqhxq0F1

— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) December 24, 2024

Hold on. This is the kakistocracy I am talking about. This is the perfect example of it. This form of institutional criminal minded thinking is like, a pandemic. It's like a real pandemic. Not a mask wearing old people dying make cripples stand in line phony vaccine pandemic. This is people making a living off causing you severe pain, deficit, and set-back. Like a lawyer who studied law to be a better criminal. If you know one, they're dangerous.

It's a cruel world when that's what you make it. This happens to be a lefty specialty (making it a cruel world).

This was not my position at all times. It is a position I have been taken to by long term observation and a small amount of intense investigation, and a certain amount of rumination and luck upon making discoveries.

Everybody is wearing a mask, of course. The psychopath who won't leave power no matter how much it pains the world is wearing a mask. And so is the criminal behind him pulling the strings to make him say and do the stupidest psychopathic crap imaginable.

Anyway. Liberals don't run a pathocracy as much as I have believed since the previous decade. It was in about 2020 to be exact when I became convinced that a form of governance called pathocracy had taken control of a few western governments. I have changed my mind. The form of government we have encountered under the guise of leftist policies, is called: HANG ON TO YOUR HATS "A kakistocracy is a government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens" These are three types: the WORST, and the LEAST QUALIFIED, and MOST UNSCRUPULOUS citizens. That can include a lot of fraternities, to go along with the other gutter sniping, back stabbing, evidence diverting ne'erdowells fighting for power, because it's profitable and you don't need brains.

pic.twitter.com/vJa0HUld3h

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 23, 2024

Considering you are confronting an entity known as kakistocracy, yes, expect a fight. Kakistocracy - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakistocracy…… As the President encountered twice during the election, there are dangerous minds lurking in the background of a government run by criminals. This is why I suspect Democrats could disappear as a political entity due to the criminal constituency running the party. Enough investigations revealing a criminal brand would end the party permanently, as it would be outlawed like the Nazi Party is outlawed in Germany. And I firmly believe they have taken control of government levers in Canada as well. It appears to be a government which cannot be removed from office. Is that criminal enough? Pretty sure it is. I think they are obsolete in a world where change demands brains. And government needs brains enough to change to keep up with this new age of technological change, and advance.

A REVIEW OF THIS YEAR'S JOHN WICK CHRISTMAS MOVIE

Roll film:

"That 'Fucking Nobody' . . . is John Wick." (Sheesh the guy drives worse than I do) He said they saw John Wick kill three men in a bar one night, with a pencil, and bury them in his basement (like John Wayne Gacy); It was a long night. Included sledgehammering. Ya sledgehammering does make it a long night, even for John, uh, Wick. "And you steal his car and kill his fucking dog." Yeah. No kidding. Killing the dog was overkill, and a sorry assed Russian bad guy move. "Son. you need a cleaner. May I suggest a lawyer I know with impeccable credentials? Not just credentials. Reputation." John Wick is gonna get ya. Fuck yer cleaner. John Wick just killed 10 or 20 Russian lawyers and frat boys. Nasty business suit wearing commercial law practicing Russian fucking lawyers. Maybe Ukrainian. I don't know for sure. Fuck he's shooting them and strangling them and stabbing them. John Wick. Sharp as a cue ball and just as dangerous. "Wick's at the Continental." John Wick hasn't been in the local speakeasy for 5 years. That's not the word on the street. Just the chick behind the bar. An entire company of former KGB is waiting at a snazzy nightclub for John Wick, and this plot is moving faster than an Elon Musk Falcon 9 Russian kid should be wearing an armored fucking bathing suit. But the kid just doesn't get it. "You stole my car you killed my dog I break your neck." At least two dozen men have died for this 5 month old beagle puppy. And this is far from over. It's like a grudge of some kind. Ya know. Like the kind I hold. Anyway, this whole Russian / Ukrainian mob scene has to start over by the end of this movie. No doubt about it. Talk about dragging shit out. Crazy. Absolutely fucking psycho. Just shot a guy point-blank in the face, number 50. This guy is a McDavid AND a Draisaitl all wrapped up in one shooter. But he isn't much of a hit with the dance crowd. How the Ukrainian lawyer's son keeps escaping is the pull. John Wick approaches the hotel clerk with a large gapping hole in his side, and of course the rule is, "Nothing to see here, all witnesses please exit stage left." Gapping holes slight impediments. Yes, plural. Those Ukrainian mobsters don't stop shooting if you're still breathing. And the fuckers hire your sister to take you down. The filthy animals. (Home Alone) A surprise twist has the Russian Church operating as a money laundering front in the downtown of, where is this, Edmonton? Yah. Edmonton. John Wick just killed a dozen people in the Church. I presume they are bad guys. And Lawyers. A couple of priests. Okay he left and burned all the cash in his wake. This puts him in hot water with the Treasury Department. But they're Liberals in charge so the money's worth nothing. We must be nearing 200 bodies. This is Shakespearean, Churchillian, Stalinist, and Nazi, all rolled into one. Wick is taken down. It's not over (I am aware of sequels). Did John Wick want to be captured? "Do you know what was in that vault?"

"The remains of tampered witnesses?"

"Don't get smart with me, John, I am not a purchased judge." But John Wick escapes. The ability of the Russians to sustain a defense is kind of unRussian in this movie. It's like John Wick is some kind of foreign Rasputin and immune from Russian/Ukrainian/unscrupulous lawyer death wishes. (Note: No Jewish mobsters are harmed in the conduct of this review, until now.) John Wick is closing in on the puppy killer / car thief. There must be more to this rage than a puppy or a Bondo Ford from the Sixties. I know the back story is his wife is dead. The puppy didn't replace her. The puppy was new. It was a puppy. At the end, the belligerent-sister-like chick is still dogging John Wick, as persistent as her promiscuity and John Wick's herpes. He stick a knife in his leg. I didn't see who did it. Nobody did. But Merry Fucking Christmas there's a knife stuck in his leg. John Wick got an upgrade from the shitty Mustang out of an insurance settlement. This horrific driver is back behind the wheel. "What's fucking wrong with this guy?"

Took long enough. Is there a doctor in the house? One with a couch and a good ear for personality disorder? It's like this show has sequels inside the show. Sequels of killing sprees. In the end, actual end, John Wick broke into a pound and got another dog. There are no more bad Ukrainian lawyer mobsters left in Edmonton. Citizen X neither confirms nor denies these are the contents of the movie John Wick.

Population rates in decline is a world problem, not one just for Japan

The population story of now: "THE COVID-19 BABY BUMP - National Bureau of Economic Research says, The 2021 baby bump is the first major reversal in declining U.S. fertility rates since 2007 and was most pronounced for first births and women under age 25, which suggests the pandemic led …"  

We’ve Had a COVID Baby Boom. Will It Last? | BU Today | Boston University

The declining birthrates in the U.S. are happening elsewhere in the world, practically everywhere except parts of Africa.   What this means is people will become more valuable. 

It means wars stop and migrations become trickles.   Countries need people to stay to support their societies.  

It means declining productivity. Fewer people to construct houses, maintain power infrastructure, do the heavy lifting.

It is a serious problem, a way larger concern than climate change. It is a way larger concern than what form of energy we are using.  

No place in the world will be immune from the sudden deficiency in numbers of people.

The population story of now: "THE COVID-19 BABY BUMP - National Bureau of Economic Research says, The 2021 baby bump is the first major reversal in declining U.S. fertility rates since 2007 and was most pronounced for first births and women under age 25, which suggests the… https://t.co/KC42FtxJv2

— Citizen X (@MackMcColl222) December 22, 2024

A Short History of Fiat Currency Failures:

It looks familiar.

America is headed for disaster, with no money for anything, unless the government overspending is addressed https://t.co/a75jYDaTMd

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 19, 2024

What other times have currencies collapsed? Historically speaking? This is a fundamental question. Allow me to do a google search. There are two with which I am totally familiar. The German mark of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s saw run away inflation, when it so happened to cost a couple of wheelbarrows worth of marks to buy a loaf of bread. The other currency collapse was in South Vietnam during the end of occupation by the French and the arrival of Americans to defend democracy in the world by reducing the population of Vietnam. Two currencies collapsed. The piaster, and the US dollar. Nobody saw it, but the result was the so-called oil crisis, when the price went from $2USD per barrel to $40USD a barrel. That sound like a currency collapse to anybody else? Anyway. They are ugly events. Currency games.

9 Currencies That Have Collapsed https://hardmoneyhistory.com/history-of-fiat-currency-failures/ 

 The point is, history is something often seen to be repeating. Is it going to happen now? Is currency collapsing? A world currency of considerable dominance since post-World War II, for idiots that is 1945. 

 I suspect a guy like Elon Musk can arrive on a scene and stop entropy in a nation, and a world. Let's say it's been done. Churchill stopped Hitler. That is an example. 

 Can Elon Musk single handedly stop a runaway train? Like Superman, or Spiderman when it's a urban transportation train. Good question. I feel like answering it. Yes. He can. Because he can add things like trillions, and subtract them. So we're gonna see a miracle. Like a movie. 

 AS SEEN ON TWITTER:

A Short History of Fiat Currency Failures: 9 Currencies That Have Collapsed https://t.co/lUklIqjEVU

The point is, history is something often seen to be repeating.

Is it going to happen now? Is currency collapsing? A world currency of considerable dominance since post-World War… https://t.co/8dcEooiLoo

— Citizen X (@MackMcColl222) December 20, 2024

The consensus in Canadian journalism is Trudeau is delusional

The main corp of daily journalists and pundits in Canada are now of a single mind about Trudeau; they say, he is fraught with psychopathic traits and delusions.

They don't say he's surrounded by sycophants but those are the only people hanging around psychopaths.

Sycophants… https://t.co/AbpTKN2GZF

— Citizen X (@MackMcColl222) December 19, 2024

BC Salmon Farmers Concerned About Fiscal Update:

Reckless Policy Decisions Compound an Expected Dire Fiscal Forecast 

Liǧʷiłdaxʷ TERRITORY/CAMPBELL RIVER, BC -- December 16, 2004 -- The BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA), representing thousands of workers across British Columbia, is deeply concerned about the grim picture painted by the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Freeland from the Trudeau government today. 

The government's reckless actions exacerbate our ballooning debt and stagnant economy as Canadians face rising living costs, higher food prices, and a weakening Canadian dollar. The estimated $9 billion taxpayer-funded cost of phasing out the BC salmon farming sector is another example of costly political gimmicks over sound economic policy. 

Despite clear scientific evidence, the decision to ban current marine net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia by 2029 is driven by political motivations rather than long-term, responsible planning. This policy ignores the real-world consequences for thousands of workers, First Nation communities, and the broader economy.  

Less Work, More Foreplay, For Japanese

Driverless vehicle future terrifies people

Citizen X

@MackMcColl222]

It's true. People cannot see the automobile for what it is. A conveyance. People see it as an extension of the arms and legs. An automobile becomes an organic feature on their body when they climb in behind the wheel. The ego becomes deeply entwined with the automobile. It is a deeply personal ego attachment. 

 Not all people see the automobile in this light. Kids whose parents died in car accidents might not have the same ego attachment. I must confess, I have had my leg ripped up by an Oldsmobile 98. And I have had my pelvis crushed by a runaway front left wheel of a 4X4. My ego attachment to the automobile is scant. I could care less if I ever saw another automobile as long as I live, even though, I own one. 

 If the whole schmear of automobiles disappeared, to be replaced by less malign forms of transport, including self-driving cars, I would see it as cause for celebration. In Canada, says Google, "In 2021, the number of motor vehicle fatalities was 1,768; up 1.3% from 2020 (1,746). The number of serious injuries increased to 8,185 in 2021; up 4% from 2020 (7,868)." (Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision Statistics: 2021 https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/statistics-data/canadian-motor-vehicle-traffic-collision-statistics-2021…)

The Unauthorized Story of Trudeau-Singh Coalition Government

"Fake Programs By Fake People": The Unauthorized Story of the Trudeau-Singh Government's Legacy of Promising Everything and Delivering Nothing.

A 🧵.

From "free dental care" to "affordable housing" to "$10/day childcare" the legacy of the Trudeau gov't will be one of fakeness. pic.twitter.com/n5RIDbFx2C

— Alex Zoltan (@AmazingZoltan) December 13, 2024

Mowachaht/Muchalaht Title Declared to B.C. Court

 Notice of Claim

"The. . . First Nation has Aboriginal title to its lands and that B.C.'s Forest Act and Land Act will no longer apply to Mowachaht/Muchalaht lands once title is declared." Vancouver Island First Nation whose ancestors met explorer Capt. Cook in 1776, only to see the disappearance of land, resources, and sovereignty, sues province of British Columbia

       Citizen X 

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/vancouver-island-first-nation-whose-ex-chief-met-capt-cook-files-claim-against-b-c/ar-AA1vLaGz?ocid=socialshare

Campbell River community spirit shines

 BC Salmon Farmers and Local Supporters Raise Nearly $5,000 for the Campbell River Food Bank at Appreciation BBQ

CAMPBELL RIVER, BC --  The BC Salmon Farmers Association and its members hosted a Community Appreciation BBQ at Robert V. Ostler Park in Campbell River August 22. The team prepared over 680 salmon fillets to serve throughout the day, accepting donations in support of the Campbell River Food Bank. The local community turned out in full force, leading to an early sell-out and raising a notable total of $4,862.

“It was a surprise when we began hearing from the chefs that we might run out of salmon. We never anticipated that over 680 people would attend, but we are truly honoured that so many came to support the Food Bank, learn more about us, and enjoy some delicious locally farmed salmon,” said Brian Kingzett, Executive Director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association. “We are also incredibly grateful to the numerous local businesses that donated their time and resources to help make the BBQ a success.”

The event featured a variety of engagement stations, including a Virtual Reality tour of a salmon farm, an Ask Us Anything booth, a Kid’s Zone with crafts and a bouncy castle, a Photo Booth, an Aqua Guardians Station in collaboration with the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, and a First Nations-Led Salmon Farming booth presented by the Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship.

The Campbell River Food Bank was also present, collecting cash donations and volunteering their time to help serve salmon, salads and cold drinks.

“Donations tend to decrease during this time of year, and these funds will be used to purchase fresh produce, meat, and dairy for our neighbours in need,” said Joanne Watson, Executive Director of the Campbell River Food Bank. “Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who came together to make this event an incredible success. We can only continue our important work thanks to the generous support of our community.”

The event was an excellent opportunity to show appreciation for the community while raising awareness about the salmon farming sector. With food affordability and security being significant concerns for British Columbians, recent government decisions to phase out current ocean-based salmon farms by 2029 have raised alarms about the future availability and affordability of salmon, as well as the viability of rural coastal communities on Vancouver Island.

“The City of Campbell River supports the BC salmon farming sector and will continue to do so. It’s a vital economic generator, and we are currently facing challenges in aquaculture,” said Susan Sinnott, Councilor of the City of Campbell River. “The livability of our city depends on the vibrancy of our first-dollar industries, and we aim to work collaboratively to ensure our citizens remain engaged.”

To learn more and to donate to the Campbell River Food Bank, please visit crfoodbank.ca.

ABOUT THE BC SALMON FARMERS ASSOCIATION

BC salmon farmers are committed to reconciliation, and all farms operating in BC are currently in agreement, negotiation, or established partnerships with First Nations in whose territories we operate. These agreements are founded upon recognizing First Nations’ right to exercise jurisdiction over the land, resources, and waters within their territories.

Farm-raised salmon generates over $1.142 billion for the provincial economy, supporting thousands of jobs. Additionally, farm-raised salmon provides a nutritious and sustainably produced protein with a low carbon footprint that contributes to Canada’s food security and Blue Economy.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association represents over 60 businesses and organizations throughout the value chain of finfish aquaculture in BC. Our members account for over 95% of the annual provincial harvest of farm-raised salmon in British Columbia.


For more information, visit bcsalmonfarmers.ca.

Squirrel guest introduces hisself

Lacey Rose speaks WFCA about Women in Wood

Role models for women

VICTORIA, B.C. - Feb. 1, 2024 - Lacey Rose is an RPF in Ontario and was invited to the WFCA 2024 Annual Conference in Victoria on to speak about Women in Wood.
"We began in 2015 in Ontario. It started with about 10 women and grew from there. In 2017 it became more official, and has grown since. We found out there were more women in forestry than we initially believed, and now we've been going almost 10 years."

Rose said the sector is growing closer to gender parity, from less than 10 percent women to more than 20 percent, but parity is a long way off.

The loose knit organization has informal networking with a blog, events, preentations, swag, and conversations among members. "We hold camping weekends, social events, pub nights, picnics."

WIW is not registered, has no money and no staff. "We're not EDI experts or professionals. We don't collect data or research. We don't speak for all women, and we don't solve larger problems. We are a community of support for each other."

Empowerment of women in the group is an underlying purpose, making women foresters visible to mentor-worthy students. "We want to provide a safe space for asking questions and building relationships."

The WIW women are available for information sharing, job posts and searches. "We have greater conversations around equity, and we act as reminders of the distance to go for women to achieve parity in the forestry industry. We hear both positive and negative stories, share emotional moments, joys and triumphs, and concerns. We take inquiries, and we have international reach."

Community support is useful for women in their early education phase of forestry practices. "We get good news stories and communicate strengths, like dealing with a forestry job and the likelihood of wildlife encounters." Rose mentioned her fear of bears and the help she received to stay in the field and overcome such persistent concerns.

"It's a generational shift, and women network to get support to grow in the forestry industry." WIW isn't owned, there's no agenda, it's strictly grassroots. "We a share a sense of pride and community, and provide authentic member conversations. Women like to get along, men like to collaborate."

The WIW purpose is not without challenges. "We are running WIW as a team of two," which makes time a precious commodity. "We struggle with funding. There's a desire to do more, maximize inclusivity, push to broaden the scope, and keep relevant conversations in play.

"We would like to do more and spread it across Canada. We have very few naysayers. Women working in forestry is an adaptation, and we are willing to work on inclusivity. Perhaps we provide a template for other networks. We could push to broaden the scope. It is a question of relevance."

Rose observes the diversity in B.C. with a certain amount of admiration. "B.C. has a good deal higher level of women working in wood industries."

WIW advocates for women-oriented work gear, clothes, boots: "The gear all fits for men, but there is inequity for women outfitting for the job. It's changing, and women can equip themselves. Still, PPE hard to find, and field gear for women is more expensive, less available."

There are other challenges in bush work, such as privacy and logistics for women, diversified leadership, efforts to even out the playing field. Equity and safety for women in camp work has become a priority."

Rose sees generational differences, and has noticed the demographic in forestry employment is often men who are older. It is these men, she says, who have been standing up for women in the forestry sector.

"If you can see it, you can do it. Role models for women the industry now show the world that women are being elevated in the forestry business."

Anti-salmon farming radio ad removed for false advertising

CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – The BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) expresses gratitude to Pattison Media for taking swift action to stop airing a factually incorrect radio advertisement by Wild First, an anti-salmon farming organization.
In the advertisement, Wild First claimed that wild Pacific salmon are “on the brink of extinction.” This sensationalist claim is false, with recent research and peer-reviewed studies confirming a record-high abundance of wild Pacific salmon in the ocean since recorded history. The advertisement then called for the removal of ocean salmon farms to protect wild Pacific salmon.

“False advertisements by Wild First mislead the public, particularly consumers who rely on accurate information to make informed choices about their food,” says Brian Kingzett, Executive Director of the BCSFA. “The spread of this misinformation undermines the significant contributions salmon farming provides to our communities, economy, and environment and is unfair to the hardworking professionals who contribute to this sector.”

Salmon farming plays a vital role in supplying a healthy and sustainable protein to consumers worldwide. British Columbia's salmon farmers are recognized globally through the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index for their commitment to sustainability and responsible aquaculture practices. They adhere to stringent regulations and follow best management practices to ensure the well-being of their fish, wild Pacific salmon, the surrounding marine environment, and the communities in which they operate. Canada's best science and multiple commissions and federal studies continue to support that farming salmon does not present more than minimal risk to wild Pacific salmon.

This is not the first time Wild First advertisements have been removed due to false information. The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) recently announced that Wild First’s anti-salmon farming billboards around Ottawa were removed due to false advertising. CTV News Vancouver also removed a news segment with anti-salmon farming advocates that contained false information, after the BCSFA filed an official complaint

“The continued spread of misinformation by Wild First and other anti-salmon farming organizations emphasizes the need for responsible advocacy based on facts and science,” says Kingzett. “We commend Pattison Media for their commitment to promoting accurate information and ensuring that false advertising is promptly removed.”

The BCSFA remains committed to promoting accurate and science-based information regarding salmon farming. We urge the public to seek reliable sources and engage in open dialogue to better understand the benefits and sustainable practices of this vital sector.

ABOUT THE BC SALMON FARMERS ASSOCIATION

BC salmon farmers are committed to reconciliation, and all farms operating in BC are currently done in agreement, negotiation, or established partnerships with First Nations in whose territories we operate. These agreements are founded upon recognizing First Nations’ right to exercise jurisdiction over the land, resources, and waters within their territories.

Farm-raised salmon generates over $1.2 billion for the provincial economy supporting thousands of jobs. Additionally, farm-raised salmon provides a nutritious and sustainably produced protein with a low carbon footprint that contributes to Canada’s food security and Blue Economy.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association represents over 60 businesses and organizations throughout the value chain of finfish aquaculture in BC. Our members account for over 95% of the annual provincial harvest of farm-raised salmon in British Columbia.

For more information, visit bcsalmonfarmers.ca.

Russell Claus takes the WFCA stage on work safety

Forestry employment safety protocols

VICTORIA, B.C. - Russell Claus is a volunteer with Threads of Life, who, in the summer of 2010, suffered a workplace injury that changed his life forever.

Claus spoke at WFCA 2024 Annual Conference on Jan 31 in the afternoon. "I was a tree planter," he said, on behalf of Threads of Life, as he focused on Canadian families dealing with workplace fatalities.

"I am with the speakers bureau of the organization. I am here to make the face of tragedy real. I was 25 years old on a hot July day when I suffered workplace injury."

Claus explained how it was a great time in his life, as he was engaged to marry, and studying at University of Victoria when he went north in May of that year to go tree planting.

"It was the same each morning, wake-up, go to the mess tent, then to the crew vehicle, and arrive at the cut block to plant trees.

"From May to late July, I lost 15 pounds, I was hypoglycemic, but I pushed myself especially toward the end of the planting season, working hard through the pain, fatigue, and feeling unwell.

"It was the last full-day of the planting year, so we set big numbers for ourselves and decided to go for it. Sure it was a hot day, but we had favorable grounds. As the day progressed, I began to feel nauseous, dehydrated, and heat exhausted, yet I went on despite knowing better. By the time the day ended I felt very bad.

"We drove around the cut-block," to wrap up this worksite, gathering personnel and equipment. Everybody was happy, but Claus was becoming sick. "I needed to stop and get sick. I insisted we stop on a pullout. I got out and moved up beside the front, driver's side of the running truck. I knew Kyle had got out of the driver's seat and went to the back of the vehicle. I leaned around the front of the vehicle to wave him off. But he wasn't there."

Kyle, unbeknownst to Claus, was behind the wheel again when suddenly a loaded truck approached to pass on the single lane logging road, and Kyle, the driver, had, "lost sight of me. He needed to move aside for the loaded log hauler, so he hit the gas. I was leaning in front of the vehicle and he hit me, causing me to ask, 'Why is the truck moving?'"

The front passenger side wheel rolled over his hip. "I felt the exhaust pipe burning a hole in my shoulder."

Unfortunately the drills to prepare an emergency response vehicle were the responsibility of Claus. He was the one who had trained for it. "I was underneath the vehicle and tried to crawl out. I wondered if I could move my feet, so I wiggled my toes and concluded it was not paralysis. Most of the pain was in the burned shoulder, and a coworker grabbed my arm and pulled me out from under the vehicle.

"I asked them to roll me over, where I felt pain in the hips and groin. My pelvis was broken in five places, the urethra severed, and there were other complications."

The 50 minutes of egress from the workplace were the most painful in his life, laying on a wooden board, bouncing down an an unpaved logging road, contemplating all these fearsome injuries. He was yet thirsty from dehydration and heat exhaustion, and knew not what to do, so, "I began to assess myself," all the while his bladder filling with blood at the severed urethra.

"I wondered what was ruptured and calculating how much time I had to live within the timeframe of the journey, I decided I was going to die on the way to town, due to my trained estimate of the survival rate from the injuries, and the estimated time of arrival at a hospital. I took off my oxygen mask and told them there is no way I am going to make it so let me go.

"I went into semiconsciousness," and they reattached oxygen while Claus had given in to (what appeared to be) his inevitable death. "I was seeing shadows of trees whip by," eventually startled awake at the transfer from stretcher to gurney at the hospital. He has never forgotten the resignation in his situation so close to death's door. He is struck to this day by the comfort he had taken from this resignation.

The doctors dealt with the repair to the bladder to stanch internal bleeding, and began assessment of the myriad injuries. Reconstructive surgeries would ensue. Injuries fatigued him and morphine dragged him down to kill the pain.

He went to Prince George, and in the hospital it was quiet and dim, he was alone, where he was saddled with a superpubic catheter, pain radiating up from his lower torso, "My mind began to ask what had happened to me. I felt tears come into my eyes. I was scared, defeated, alone. My fiance arrived, and months of rehab and recovery, and surgery took place."

Claus was wheelchair-bound, muscles atrophied on pain killers, and says he fell into a state of complete dependency, suffering sleepless nights with raging restless leg syndrome, common bodily functions gone missing in action, uncertainty in his romantic relationship, "Would I walk, limp, have sex? I had no answers."

More surgery came and went. What remained was uncertainty of recovery, "I did begin to recover in a way, but cramps, high blood pressure, extensive nerve damage, antibiotic exhaustion, multiple urinary tract infections, plus the mental impact from the scarring, having sweating hands, fear of crossing streets, a return to school was unmanageable."

He realized in the depths of making it from sick to recovery, some of the search for wellness wasn't going to come to pass. He wasn't going to be the same. "It's not the same life. I do hike the West Coast Trail," (difficult to imagine doing this in the face of chronic pain and life-long complications).

At this moment in his talk, Claus turned to the subject of family, friends, and coworkers. The first rumination was about Kyle, who came forth, and Claus learned he had attempted suicide after the incident, "I am still in his dreams in a bad way.

"Helene, we spoke differently to each other after the incident, we got married, but we are not any more. She was so spent from managing my life, it was huge PTSD to her.

"What I learned. I thought 'whatever' but if you get hurt at work, others bear the injury for the rest of their lives."

He works in health and safety. "It's my job to put the information and training out there, to teach safe and supervised work, advocate for safety-oriented changes, and ask for vigilence in finding experienced crew chiefs. Sometimes the amount of supervision they have is as little as two months.

"Do I question how our work is structured? My pushing hard that day was costly to my health, and almost cost me my life." It was the challenge and the opportunity which drove him past the boundaries of safety.

"I was a young worker when that happened, but plenty of people continue to work around heavy equipment, and must always remember, lapses in concentration and failure to comply to regulations and standards of practice in the field will cause a rippling effect."

Reach out to Threads of Life

Claus currently resides in Halifax, N.S., where he works in occupational health and safety. Originally from Victoria, B.C., he completed his Master’s degree at McMaster University where his studies and thesis focused on worker safety in the resource sector.

Q & A
Q. Did you have counseling in the care after the incident?

A. I was required to get counseling and family was also availed of counseling services. Through Critical Incident Management programs, there is treatment for psychological injuries, immediate counseling and support is made available to those in critical incidents.

Freelance Writing by Malcolm 'Mack' McColl

Coastal Indigenous release plan for sustainable Canadian salmon farming

ANISHINABE ALGONQUIN TERRITORY/OTTAWA, ON -- Coastal First Nations from British Columbia came to Parliament Hill today to release a new, positive plan for modern, sustainable, in-ocean salmon farming in their traditional territories.

The Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship (FNFFS) has developed a Nations-led, science-backed, and industry supported plan for salmon aquaculture that is responsible, realistic, and achievable, and will drive the following five outcomes for their rural communities:

- Wild salmon revitalization
- Economic Reconciliation
- An Indigenous-led Blue Economy
- Social and ecological well-being for their territories and communities
- Food security and affordability for their communities and all Canadians

“As conservationists, our coastal Nations have travelled thousands of kilometres to Parliament Hill to present a solution to what’s been a divisive issue in BC: a real, achievable plan for salmon farming that enables our remote communities to continue to thrive socially, economically, and culturally while working to revitalize wild salmon,” says Dallas Smith, spokesperson for the Coalition.

“We have proven we can be both salmon stewards and salmon farmers in our sovereign territories, and by asserting our rights and title with this comprehensive plan, we fully intend to lead this process to achieve what’s best for our communities,” Smith adds.

Nations that participate in the Coalition span from western and central Vancouver Island to BC’s central coast. They have been working alongside the Department of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO) and the Province of British Columbia to develop a framework for the modernization of salmon farming in their traditional waters.

The plan announced today ensures that the future of salmon farming in BC is led by the Nations in whose territories the farms operate, while retaining good, sustainable, year-round jobs and building economic and scientific capacity in Indigenous communities. It also integrates the vision for a new Indigenous Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (iCAHS) based in Campbell River, BC.

“Because of the work and dignity that comes with the salmon farming industry, we have had no suicides in my community of Klemtu for the past 18 years. Think about that,” says Isaiah Robinson, Deputy Chief Councillor for Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, located 800 km north of Vancouver, on the Central Coast. “My community now has 99 per cent employment and 51% of our income comes from the salmon farming sector. It makes no sense to shut it down. There is no industry that can fill that space.”

With 40% of the fish farms in BC closed in recent years, nearly 400 jobs have already been lost, small businesses have been impacted, and food bank lines are longer in communities like Port Hardy on Northern Vancouver Island. Considering the impact on remote communities, any further decision-making regarding the future of the sector must be done so with Rightsholder Nations at the table, and with their communities top of mind, says Smith.

“With new technology and best practices, and the guardianship and monitoring of our Nations, the salmon farming industry is even more modern than it was 10 or even five years ago. Salmon farmers have innovated far more quickly than any other industry I work with, and at our request,” adds Smith, “But our Nations want to keep working with the industry to truly elevate the potential of our rich marine spaces. To do that, we need the government to also partner with us sit together at the table to implement this plan for modern, sustainable, in-ocean salmon farming that provides a realistic solution for our Nations.”

“If Canada is going to walk the talk on true reconciliation, I think every Canadian would agree that the future of modern salmon farming in BC must be shaped by the coastal First Nations in whose territories the farms are located.”

The FNFFS plan titled, “Indigenous-led Finfish Aquaculture Transition Framework” has been delivered to new DFO Minister Diane Lebouthillier last week, and requires specific commitments to succeed, including:

Government investment in territory-specific Indigenous-led science, technology, and stewardship.

Greater investment and broader, territory-specific siting and implementation of new barrier and monitoring technologies.

The completion of social and economic impact studies in First Nations communities to understand the significance of the presence of the modern salmon-farming sector.
Greater trust and transparency in data-sharing between DFO, industry, ENGOs and First Nations.

The creation of a new Indigenous Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (ICAHS) in Campbell River to unite western science and Traditional Knowledge in modern scientific methods, as well as provide a coastal training centre for Guardian Watchmen and scientific capacity building for Indigenous communities.

The immediate renewal of long-term salmon farm licensing (9 years) for investment security and growth.

info@firstnationsforfinfish.ca