OldBlackDog
Well-Known Member
VICTORIA — A B.C. government fish pathologist, whose research into fish farms has put him at odds with environmentalists and sparked a politically charged review of the entire provincial lab, says he is surprised to find himself at the centre of a political firestorm involving Agriculture Minister Lana Popham.
Gary Marty, the senior provincial fish pathologist at the Animal Health Centre, said he holds no ill will toward Popham despite being initially targeted by her as part of an investigation that has morphed into a review of the lab and its science.
“I think ‘surprise’ would probably be the best term to describe it,” he said in an interview, when asked how he had felt of almost a week of the issue dominating debate at the legislature.
“I have two earned doctoral degrees, I’m also board certified in veterinary pathology, I’ve been here for 12 years, and I kind of understand pretty well some of the dynamics that go on here,” he added.
“So while it’s frustrating, it’s not surprising. And I feel as the senior member of our four-person fish pathology team that I have a responsibility to stand up and be a model for professionalism in all this, when maybe not everyone is behaving as professional as they could be.”
Popham has faced accusations of inappropriate political interference, after she told Postmedia last week she was going to investigate Marty and his work following complaints from First Nations groups who wanted him fired. Marty has published research that environmental groups say dismisses the seriousness of fish-farm diseases.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans scientist Kristi Miller accused Marty of potential conflict of interest on CTV’s W5 show last week, because he had worked with a veterinarian from fish-farm company Marine Harvest on a scientific report. Miller later briefed Popham on her concerns in an unofficial capacity by teleconference, which Popham told the legislature constituted a concern by DFO. The federal agency later said it had not lodged an official complaint about the science being done at the lab.
Popham’s initial investigation has since morphed into a review of the entire Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford. On Wednesday, Premier John Horgan put his head of the civil service, Don Wright, in charge of reviewing the lab’s scientific and ethical practices, removing Popham from the file.
B.C.’s Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, sent out a chilling letter to fish farm operator Marine Harvest Canada regarding its continued presence on the B.C. coast. BRUCE STOTESBURY / TIMES COLONIST FILES
Marty said he understands how it could look like a conflict, but the Animal Health Centre is the only facility in Canada with board-certified veterinary fish pathologists inside an accredited diagnostic laboratory, and so it serves a wide range of clients, including the fish farms which own the actual fish that need to be tested in order to understand the diseases.
“We need to be able to provide services to a wide range of clients, some of which could be perceived as being in a conflict of interest,” said Marty. “But as medical professionals, our goal and what we need to do is provide reliable diagnostic services to anybody who needs it so they can make informed decisions. It’s a matter of … just needing to explain what we do.”
Whether the structure of the lab system, and its ability to conduct work with industry, presents an inherent conflict of interest due to the model government has chosen, will form part of the review, Popham told reporters Thursday.
“I think the terms of reference talk about looking into if there could be a conflict of interest, so that seems like it is part of the review, but I didn’t have anything to do with designing the review,” Popham said. “The scientific community depends on the integrity of results. So that means when they come up with information, it’s not in question. And our lab has proven over and over the years … that they have integrity.”
The B.C. government’s terms of reference say it will conduct the review of the lab’s science in a way that removes any political interference, and it will focus on “the formal policies and procedures at the Animal Health Centre to determine if best practices and ethical standards are followed, including protecting against potential conflicts of interest.”
Marty said he has spoken to Popham in the past, and expects they will speak again in the future on this and other files, because she is his minister.
“We’ve spoken before,” he said. “Certainly, everyone has their own opinions, and I respect that. You have different constituencies you need to work toward. So I have no ill feelings toward the minister.”
In the meantime, Marty said he is not concerned that this may cost him his job.
“I’ve heard the minister say there is no concern about my job,” he said. “I’m in a unionized position. Realistically, it would be nearly impossible for me to be fired.
“While it’s disconcerting, it is an opportunity to show more people, inform more people, of what goes on in our laboratory and the quality of our people and the quality of our accreditation,” he added. “So, in the long run, I think it will be positive for our laboratory, and I hope that British Columbians will be more comfortable with the quality of diagnostics that they receive once this review is completed and they see the results.”
rshaw@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/robshaw_vansun
CLICK HERE to report a typo.
Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.
Gary Marty, the senior provincial fish pathologist at the Animal Health Centre, said he holds no ill will toward Popham despite being initially targeted by her as part of an investigation that has morphed into a review of the lab and its science.
“I think ‘surprise’ would probably be the best term to describe it,” he said in an interview, when asked how he had felt of almost a week of the issue dominating debate at the legislature.
“I have two earned doctoral degrees, I’m also board certified in veterinary pathology, I’ve been here for 12 years, and I kind of understand pretty well some of the dynamics that go on here,” he added.
“So while it’s frustrating, it’s not surprising. And I feel as the senior member of our four-person fish pathology team that I have a responsibility to stand up and be a model for professionalism in all this, when maybe not everyone is behaving as professional as they could be.”
Popham has faced accusations of inappropriate political interference, after she told Postmedia last week she was going to investigate Marty and his work following complaints from First Nations groups who wanted him fired. Marty has published research that environmental groups say dismisses the seriousness of fish-farm diseases.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans scientist Kristi Miller accused Marty of potential conflict of interest on CTV’s W5 show last week, because he had worked with a veterinarian from fish-farm company Marine Harvest on a scientific report. Miller later briefed Popham on her concerns in an unofficial capacity by teleconference, which Popham told the legislature constituted a concern by DFO. The federal agency later said it had not lodged an official complaint about the science being done at the lab.
Popham’s initial investigation has since morphed into a review of the entire Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford. On Wednesday, Premier John Horgan put his head of the civil service, Don Wright, in charge of reviewing the lab’s scientific and ethical practices, removing Popham from the file.
B.C.’s Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, sent out a chilling letter to fish farm operator Marine Harvest Canada regarding its continued presence on the B.C. coast. BRUCE STOTESBURY / TIMES COLONIST FILES
Marty said he understands how it could look like a conflict, but the Animal Health Centre is the only facility in Canada with board-certified veterinary fish pathologists inside an accredited diagnostic laboratory, and so it serves a wide range of clients, including the fish farms which own the actual fish that need to be tested in order to understand the diseases.
“We need to be able to provide services to a wide range of clients, some of which could be perceived as being in a conflict of interest,” said Marty. “But as medical professionals, our goal and what we need to do is provide reliable diagnostic services to anybody who needs it so they can make informed decisions. It’s a matter of … just needing to explain what we do.”
Whether the structure of the lab system, and its ability to conduct work with industry, presents an inherent conflict of interest due to the model government has chosen, will form part of the review, Popham told reporters Thursday.
“I think the terms of reference talk about looking into if there could be a conflict of interest, so that seems like it is part of the review, but I didn’t have anything to do with designing the review,” Popham said. “The scientific community depends on the integrity of results. So that means when they come up with information, it’s not in question. And our lab has proven over and over the years … that they have integrity.”
The B.C. government’s terms of reference say it will conduct the review of the lab’s science in a way that removes any political interference, and it will focus on “the formal policies and procedures at the Animal Health Centre to determine if best practices and ethical standards are followed, including protecting against potential conflicts of interest.”
Marty said he has spoken to Popham in the past, and expects they will speak again in the future on this and other files, because she is his minister.
“We’ve spoken before,” he said. “Certainly, everyone has their own opinions, and I respect that. You have different constituencies you need to work toward. So I have no ill feelings toward the minister.”
In the meantime, Marty said he is not concerned that this may cost him his job.
“I’ve heard the minister say there is no concern about my job,” he said. “I’m in a unionized position. Realistically, it would be nearly impossible for me to be fired.
“While it’s disconcerting, it is an opportunity to show more people, inform more people, of what goes on in our laboratory and the quality of our people and the quality of our accreditation,” he added. “So, in the long run, I think it will be positive for our laboratory, and I hope that British Columbians will be more comfortable with the quality of diagnostics that they receive once this review is completed and they see the results.”
rshaw@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/robshaw_vansun
CLICK HERE to report a typo.
Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.
