Ottawa invests $11 8 million in Indigenous commercial fishing ventures on West Coast theturtleislandnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theturtleislandnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The federal government is committed to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous communities and building regenerative and prosperous fisheries in B.C. with $11.8 million in funding through the Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative, said federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray.
“It’s had a dramatic effect,” said Tofino Mayor Dan Law. “There are still people here from away, but the numbers are clearly lower.” Law said it’s evident the latest travel orders put in place amid a surge in COVID-19 cases have had more of an impact than previous restrictions, with traffic thinning to a trickle in the popular resort town. The restrictions, issued Friday, prohibit non-essential travel between Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Interior until after the May long weekend. People have also been asked to stay close to home. Law said there is more a sense of urgency to get a handle on the virus and vaccines and there isn’t any “resentment” between locals and visitors as seen last spring and summer.