Fish and Dips

Police were called to break up a riot at the pavilion Ballroom at Stanley Park during the April 26th Vancouver Burrard NDP Riding Association after Carole James sided with a group of farmed salmon.

"That's right!", a representative from the Riding Association proclaimed. "Them non-union farmed salmon got in here, started talking fact based stuff from the BC Salmon Farmers Association - which confused the bejesus out of us - then all hell broke loose."

From all accounts, the farmed salmon - or "scab salmon" - was on the menu for the evening's dinner. As word of the main course circulated through the room the Dippers become self righteous and trashed the place. The reason for this hostility? During the 2005 election, the NDP Platform (see page 50) called for a reinstatement of a moratorium on open-net fish farms with strong hints towards a boycott of farmed salmon. So it must be because of environmental reasons for this anti fish farming stance.

"What are you...Sims, I mean stupid?", our contact stammered. "[Official Opposition Critic for the Environment and No Pants Day advocate] Shane Simpson is still way too busy with that whole rock, paper, scissors thing so the environment is not the reason. We are against the farmed salmon 'cause they is farmed by non-union folks."

That's right. NDP policy makers such as BC Fed President Jim "Sexy Moustache" Sinclair and BCTF President Jinny "Sexy Moustache II" Sims assisted with the anti-farm salmon policy as the industry is mostly staffed by non-union workers, many of whom are Aboriginal.

But even with all the posturing of the evening, everyone still ate their meal. So what about Carole along with other NDPers and unionists chowing down on the farmed salmon - is that not hypocritical?

"It's not at all," our contact stammered. "We always look out for our best interests. But while we stand on principal we dine on salmon!"