New Fish Farm Friendly Minister Gets Approval

Premier Gordon Campbell appointed Cantelon to his first cabinet position Friday afternoon, to replace Comox Valley MLA Stan Hagen, who died suddenly on Jan. 20, writes Tom Fletcher - Surrey North Delta Leader.

The Surrey Leader news article says that after being elected to the legislature in 2005, Cantelon has established himself as a passionate defender of coastal salmon farming, which will now be part of his ministerial duties. Campbell stressed that qualification at a brief swearing-in ceremony in Vancouver.

"He knows how important agriculture and the aquaculture industry is to our economy, and to the almost 5,000 people who are currently at work in aquaculture, as well as the literally thousands who are involved in the agriculture industry, from cattlemen to tree fruit growers, to berry farmers in the Fraser Valley," Campbell said.