Nathan Cullen said Canada's Minister for Fisheries and Oceans is as absent as this year's sockeye salmon run causes closures around B.C.
The Skeena-Bulkey Valley MP slammed Minister Gail Shea for "not being involved" during "a crisis" of record-low sockeye salmon numbers in the Skeena River this year.
"We can't seem to get their attention at all on what we think is a significant crisis in the fishery, the absence of such an important fish," Cullen said.
"Just getting some basic response from her office is incredibly difficult. This is no time for her to take vacation. This is a fishery that needs support. Certainly if this was happening on the east coast she would be all over it, but because it's happening out here it doesn't seem to be as important. That's a shame because she's the federal fisheries minister, not just for one region."
Cullen said the minister's absence is all too familiar.
"We've seen this rodeo when she was [the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans] before. It took almost a year to get her to visit the North Coast, and then she showed up without any understanding," he said.
"The minister ... is doing just as good as a job as she did last time, which is to say terrible."
The Skeena-Bulkey Valley MP said Canadians on the west coast have justifiably began to feel like second class citizens.
"My hope was she learned ... here's her first test. We're weeks into this thing and she's as missing as the salmon," he said.
Shea was unavailable for comment, however Sophie Doucet, the minister's spokesperson, said the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has been working to address the issue.
“Our government recognizes the importance of salmon to British Columbia, which is why in Budget 2013 we announced $10 million to support local groups working to improve fisheries habitat. We have also dedicated all funds collected through the sale of Salmon Conservation Stamps to the Pacific Salmon Foundation and its many partner organizations for the funding of conservation projects in B.C.,” Doucet said.
The minister’s spokesperson lashed back at Cullen for his comments.
“I hope Mr. Cullen will explain to his constituents why he voted against millions of dollars to improve the fisheries habitat. It seems as if he may be more interested in playing politics than actually helping the fishery,” Doucet said.
Cullen said he would like to see the federal government put resources into finding out what happened to the fish, meet with fishermen and First Nations on the west coast and respond to what was heard to be more supportive of the fishing community.