Updated: Final Hearings
(Vancouver) The Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River will hear final oral submissions from participants over five days in Vancouver from November 4-10.
Final submissions will be heard each day from 10 am to 12:30 pm and 2-4 pm in the 12th floor hearing room of the BC Securities Commission, 701 West Georgia Street. Note that this is the same building where the commission held evidentiary hearings, but a different floor. *Note, new dates of December 15, 16, and 19 will be added to cover ISA issues.
Hearings are open to the public however due to the change in location, seating will be very limited. The commission will therefore be providing an audiocast of the proceedings in both English and French. For more information, visit www.cohencommission.ca. Media recording or broadcasting of the hearings may be allowed with advance arrangements. To discuss, contact Carla Shore at 604-658-3646 or carla.shore@cohencommission.ca.
Updated: Cohen Commission Resumes Evidentiary Hearings
The Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River will resume its evidentiary hearings in Vancouver tomorrow after a summer recess. Hearings will continue until the end of September, with final submissions expected in November 2011.
Upcoming topics include:
August 17 & 18 – Effects of habitat in the marine environment
August 19 & September 2 – Aboriginal fishing
August 22 – August 24 – Diseases and parasites
August 25 – September 8 - Aquaculture
Hearings are held Mondays through Fridays and are scheduled from 10 am to 12:30 pm and 2-4 pm most days. Details of each hearing day, including expected witnesses (as available) can be found on the commission’s online calendar at http://www.cohencommission.ca/en/Schedule/. Exhibits and transcripts are also posted online once available, and the calendar is updated regularly.
Hearings are open to the public and will be held at the Federal Court at 701 West Georgia Street, 8th floor. Please be aware that seating in the courtroom is limited. A media room will be provided for media in attendance. Media recording or broadcasting of the hearings may be allowed with advance arrangements. To discuss, contact Carla Shore at 604-658-3646 or carla.shore@cohencommission.ca.
Click here for the hearings schedule.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2010
Cohen Commission releases schedule for fall evidentiary hearings
(Vancouver) The Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River has released its plan for evidentiary hearings beginning on October 25th, 2010, including the list of topics to be investigated in the fall of 2010 and the intended dates for hearing each topic. The full plan for fall hearings is available at www.cohencommission.ca.
“We have an ambitious hearings schedule that should allow us to investigate the causes for decline of Fraser River sockeye,” said Brian Wallace, senior commission counsel for the Cohen Commission. “We have set out this schedule based on what we have gathered to date in our document review, interviews and hearing preparation.”
Evidentiary hearings will begin Monday, October 25 through mid- December, and will continue in the new year. Hearings will run Mondays through Fridays and are scheduled from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2-4 pm each day. Hearings are open to the public and will be held at the Federal Court at 701 West Georgia Street, 8th floor. Media recording or broadcasting of the hearings may be allowed with advance arrangements. To discuss, contact Carla Shore at 604-658-3646 or carla.shore@cohencommission.ca.
The opening week of hearings will include a presentation on the Fraser sockeye life cycle, followed by evidence about perspectives on conservation, sustainability and stewardship, and submissions on Aboriginal law as it relates to the sockeye fishery. After that, evidence will be presented on the organizational structure of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Pacific Salmon Commission and management of the sockeye salmon fishery.
About the Cohen Commission
The Cohen Commission (www.cohencommission.ca) was established on November 5, 2009 with the appointment of the Honourable Bruce Cohen as Commissioner. Under its Terms of Reference, the commission will hold hearings to investigate and report on the decline of sockeye salmon in the Fraser River. Based on its findings, the commission will make recommendations for improving the future sustainability of the sockeye salmon fishery in the Fraser River, including, as required, any changes to the policies, practices and procedures of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in relation to the management of the Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery.
The Great Bear Rainforest Youth Paddle group is raising money for their 4-6 day canoe trip in June: a paddle around Gil Island to protest the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline.
