On Friday July 25 2025, Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich–Gulf Islands, wrote to the Minister of Fisheries, the Hon. Joanne Thompson, regarding the Malahat Highway Expansion and risks to salmon habitats in Goldstream River.
Read the pdf of the letter here
The Honourable Joanne Thompson
Minister of Fisheries
July 25th, 2025
Re: Malahat Highway Expansion and Risks to Salmon Habitat in Goldstream River
Dear Minister Thompson,
I am writing to you regarding the proposed Malahat Safety Improvement Project along the Goldstream Highway and its potentially devastating impact on salmon populations and fish habitat, matters that fall under your federal jurisdiction.
Goldstream Provincial Park is home to a vibrant annual salmon run, with approximately 33,000 salmon returning each year. This natural event draws thousands of students, tourists, and community members who gather to witness the salmon’s return, a remarkable expression of the West Coast’s ecological richness.
The highway expansion project, first proposed in 2018, aims to widen the roadway through the park to accommodate increasing traffic. The plan includes cutting down over 700 trees, blasting rock formations directly above the river, and installing cantilevered extensions over the waterway. These invasive modifications risk undermining years of conservation work to protect sensitive salmon populations, particularly the Coho.
The impacts extend beyond environmental concerns. The Goldstream River supports culturally and spiritually significant salmon fisheries for the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation, including chum, coho, and chinook. The surrounding areas of the proposed construction are used for traditional fishing, food gathering, and ceremonies such as the First Salmon Ceremony, integral practices to W̱SÁNEĆ identity and rights.
Given the federal government’s role in safeguarding fish and fish habitat under the Fisheries Act, I respectfully urge you to conduct a thorough review of the Malahat Safety Improvement Project. The ecological integrity of Goldstream River and the constitutionally protected rights of Indigenous peoples must not be compromised.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth May, O.C.
Member of Parliament
Saanich–Gulf Islands