Caribou Consultation Meetings ... frustration is being expressed because bureaucrats and government officials have been at it for over a year - yet people attending are saying nobody has talked to them. NOBODY!
Alan
Forseth ~~ Kamloops, BC ~~ April 17th, 2019
ONE YEAR AGO ... back on April 13th, the Forests,
Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Minister Doug
Donaldson announced that the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation has been
granted $2 million to aid in caribou habitat restoration.
At the time he also stated, that roads, trails, right-of-ways and seismic lines have changed the landscape where caribou live. This makes them vulnerable to predators, such as wolves, bears and cougars. The Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund will help to disrupt these lines of sight and travel – through reforestation, fencing, fertilization and other measures – to restore the caribou’s habitat and to decrease predatory attacks.
In reading the Canada British Columbia Conservation Agreement for South Mountain Caribou in British Columbia – the agreement for the conservation of the Southern Mountain Caribou pursuant to section 11 of the Species at Risk Act --- and after a whole lot of WHEREAS’s we get to a couple of pertinent points:
... Conservation and Recovery Measures in this Agreement are based on current population status of the Southern Mountain Caribou in British Columbia ... current threats, assessments and the presumption of minimal negative impacts on recovery over the immediate and long term from unknown or unanticipated factors .... and that future achievements will rely, in part, on the continued ability to manage predators and primary prey, to protect Southern Mountain Caribou from predators.
... section 11 of the Species at Risk Act provides the competent** ministers authority to enter into conservation agreements with any other government of Canada, organization or person to benefit a species at risk or enhance its survival in the wild, and recognizing that such agreements may cover a wide range of actions and activities that must provide for the taking of conservation measures ...
** seriously, they had to describe themselves as competent?? Meaning having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose ... or to be properly qualified. I have to say that makes me a bit nervous about those at the top who are running this show
At the time he also stated, that roads, trails, right-of-ways and seismic lines have changed the landscape where caribou live. This makes them vulnerable to predators, such as wolves, bears and cougars. The Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund will help to disrupt these lines of sight and travel – through reforestation, fencing, fertilization and other measures – to restore the caribou’s habitat and to decrease predatory attacks.
In reading the Canada British Columbia Conservation Agreement for South Mountain Caribou in British Columbia – the agreement for the conservation of the Southern Mountain Caribou pursuant to section 11 of the Species at Risk Act --- and after a whole lot of WHEREAS’s we get to a couple of pertinent points:
... Conservation and Recovery Measures in this Agreement are based on current population status of the Southern Mountain Caribou in British Columbia ... current threats, assessments and the presumption of minimal negative impacts on recovery over the immediate and long term from unknown or unanticipated factors .... and that future achievements will rely, in part, on the continued ability to manage predators and primary prey, to protect Southern Mountain Caribou from predators.
... section 11 of the Species at Risk Act provides the competent** ministers authority to enter into conservation agreements with any other government of Canada, organization or person to benefit a species at risk or enhance its survival in the wild, and recognizing that such agreements may cover a wide range of actions and activities that must provide for the taking of conservation measures ...
** seriously, they had to describe themselves as competent?? Meaning having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose ... or to be properly qualified. I have to say that makes me a bit nervous about those at the top who are running this show
PLEASE NOTE:
A draft partnership agreement between BC, Canada, West Moberly and
Saulteau First Nations proposes specific habitat protection and restoration
measures to recover the central group herds of southern mountain caribou
And it's Section 11 that in many cases are concerning those in rural British Columbia --- and likely why the BC NDP government invited residents to community engagement sessions to provide feedback on, two draft agreements, to conserve southern mountain caribou populations.
Meetings began on April 1st in Chetwynd and continued on to Ft. St. John, Tumbler Ridge, Dawson Creek, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George, Mackenzie, Revelstoke, and Nelson ... to (04/17) in Nakusp and then Cranbrook Apr 30th.
Key to this, as I will discuss shortly was that at these meetings, provincial and federal government staff were going to be there to share information about the draft agreements, and were to be available to answer questions.
So, how’s that working? Apparently, not so well!
And it's Section 11 that in many cases are concerning those in rural British Columbia --- and likely why the BC NDP government invited residents to community engagement sessions to provide feedback on, two draft agreements, to conserve southern mountain caribou populations.
Meetings began on April 1st in Chetwynd and continued on to Ft. St. John, Tumbler Ridge, Dawson Creek, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Prince George, Mackenzie, Revelstoke, and Nelson ... to (04/17) in Nakusp and then Cranbrook Apr 30th.
Key to this, as I will discuss shortly was that at these meetings, provincial and federal government staff were going to be there to share information about the draft agreements, and were to be available to answer questions.
So, how’s that working? Apparently, not so well!
For example, at the consultation meeting earlier
this week, 800 people packed a community hall in Revelstoke – with nearly 2,000
more taking it in on livestream – so they could listen, question, and raise their
concerns.
As Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok expressed to me in an interview; “These issues tend to be polarized. You’ve got people who would be on the environmental side of everything, and they want to shut everything down ... and then you have those on the other side who say let’s open everything up and go party.”
Interestingly to me however, given the usual two extremes, Doug indicated that, “... both sides came together”.
Bolin demanded answers from the NDP about the proposed
reforms' impact on a wide range of British Columbians.
"Why has this been
kept from the people it affects the most for so long? It’s time the government
gives answers, because the people of B.C. deserve the truth."
But residents of community aren't buying the
explanations.
“It was really impressive that so many people there, who were just everyday people, came well prepared – were well researched about what they were talking about – and they pointed out to those bureaucrats that the plans do say there will be shutdowns”.
Another in the audience commented that government had come right out, in the Peace Country, saying there could be up to 500 job losses.
As Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok expressed to me in an interview; “These issues tend to be polarized. You’ve got people who would be on the environmental side of everything, and they want to shut everything down ... and then you have those on the other side who say let’s open everything up and go party.”
Interestingly to me however, given the usual two extremes, Doug indicated that, “... both sides came together”.
“It’s
almost like there’s a common enemy and the key thing that continued to come out
in that meeting was ... WE DON’T TRUST YOU!”
It’s no wonder then that
in my interview with the new BC Conservative Party leader Trevor Bolin, he made
the comment, “The caribou
initiative is just another example of a government that is not open and
transparent, nor is it in touch with the people of British Columbia”.
 |
| BC Conservative Party leader Trevor Bolin of Ft. St. John |
"These proposed
changes effect industry, outdoor enthusiasts, small business, families and
British Columbians alike," Bolin said. "These are massive proposed
changes to the B.C. we know and love.
Meantime bureaucrats,
stated MLA Clovechok, when talking about Section 11 say ... don’t worry, we’re not going to shut anything
down.
“It was really impressive that so many people there, who were just everyday people, came well prepared – were well researched about what they were talking about – and they pointed out to those bureaucrats that the plans do say there will be shutdowns”.
Another in the audience commented that government had come right out, in the Peace Country, saying there could be up to 500 job losses.
No wonder then that Ft. St. John City Councillor, and BC Conservative
leader Trevor Bolin stated that, “After
numerous meeting requests by the Provincial Government to the Peace River
Regional District for closed meetings, which were denied, the Premier did make his
way to Dawson Creek to meet with the Peace River Regional District in a closed
meeting”.
But Trevor also stated to me, when I asked, why a ‘closed meeting’?
“Yes, they should have been open meetings from the beginning. None of the meetings requests from the government should have been closed”.
In the Cariboo – not to be confused with the actual Caribou which the consultation meetings were about -- Regional Director Steve Forseth (my nephew) left no doubt he was not impressed by the so-called ‘consultation’ meetings.
“Essentially, we were presented with the information about the habitat protection area for the southern mountain Caribou”.
“When (the bureaucrats were) questioned, there was a lot of frustration around the process used including the lack of genuine engagement with local governments, the meeting format and the inability to answer questions like more snowmobile closure areas and what the plan’s impact would be on things like forestry and mines”.
“The same thing was repeated in Quesnel, at the meeting which was held there.”
No wonder Columbia River – Revelstoke area MLA Doug Clovechok said they were more polished at the meeting held there this week.
“They’ve been practicing”, he said, before going on to say, “There’s no question in my mind that they were on a script, because they wouldn’t deviate from it, and they WOULDN’T answer questions”.
“You’d think we were in (bleep bleep) Question Period!”
There is frustration too, being expressed at these community meetings. Frustration because these bureaucrats, and government officials, have been at it for over a year now. Yet the people attending are saying nobody has talked to them ... NOBODY!
Now, Premier Horgan has extended the consultation period by a month – but during that time there’s no additional consultations ... which is why Clovechok says they should be talking to as many people as they can.
But Trevor also stated to me, when I asked, why a ‘closed meeting’?
“Yes, they should have been open meetings from the beginning. None of the meetings requests from the government should have been closed”.
In the Cariboo – not to be confused with the actual Caribou which the consultation meetings were about -- Regional Director Steve Forseth (my nephew) left no doubt he was not impressed by the so-called ‘consultation’ meetings.
“Essentially, we were presented with the information about the habitat protection area for the southern mountain Caribou”.
“When (the bureaucrats were) questioned, there was a lot of frustration around the process used including the lack of genuine engagement with local governments, the meeting format and the inability to answer questions like more snowmobile closure areas and what the plan’s impact would be on things like forestry and mines”.
“The same thing was repeated in Quesnel, at the meeting which was held there.”
No wonder Columbia River – Revelstoke area MLA Doug Clovechok said they were more polished at the meeting held there this week.
“They’ve been practicing”, he said, before going on to say, “There’s no question in my mind that they were on a script, because they wouldn’t deviate from it, and they WOULDN’T answer questions”.
“You’d think we were in (bleep bleep) Question Period!”
There is frustration too, being expressed at these community meetings. Frustration because these bureaucrats, and government officials, have been at it for over a year now. Yet the people attending are saying nobody has talked to them ... NOBODY!
Now, Premier Horgan has extended the consultation period by a month – but during that time there’s no additional consultations ... which is why Clovechok says they should be talking to as many people as they can.
It should come as no surprise then that on Monday (Apr 15th),
Premier John Horgan announced that the Province has appointed Blair Lekstrom as
community liaison tasked with engaging residents of the Peace region on draft
partnership agreements on caribou recovery.
Premier Horgan has also extended the engagement period to May 31, 2019, in order to give Lekstrom time to work with local leaders.
“People want to see the continued strength of our resource communities. As we meet a federal obligation to recover caribou, our government has been working to support workers and industry.”
Horgan continued, “Blair Lekstrom has earned the trust and respect of residents in the Northeast. I can think of no one better to consult directly with, and fairly represent, the interests of people here.”
In his role as community liaison, Lekstrom will consult with community leaders and local stakeholders on the draft agreements, provide input into the economic impact analysis and advise how the Province can meet its obligation to protect southern mountain caribou, while also protecting local jobs and communities.
Again, going back to MLA Clovechok, he believes that what’s happening is that with the threat up in the Peace Country, of losing up to 500 jobs, someone from the federal government said to Horgan:
“If you’re losing up to 500 jobs it on you, it will not be on us. We’re kicking the SNC-Lavalin thing down the road; we don’t need anymore controversy”
And controversy it is.
At a wildlife symposium held recently in Cranbrook, six scientists with 300 collective years of field biology experience, informed the audience that .... this is not about habitat loss. As a matter of fact, there’s habitat that hasn’t changed on this landscape, and there’s still no animals (Caribou) on it.
According to Clovechok, everyone of them said this is about predation. You’ve got to get rid of the wolves. And it’s not only the wolves, it’s the bears and cougars too.
"One of the interesting outcomes was that the bureaucrats admitted out loud that predation is the predominant factor in the decline of Caribou – especially from wolves”.
How will that hit the B.C. NDP’s base support however if wolves are specifically targeted?
According to Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Director Steve Forseth:
Premier Horgan has also extended the engagement period to May 31, 2019, in order to give Lekstrom time to work with local leaders.
“People want to see the continued strength of our resource communities. As we meet a federal obligation to recover caribou, our government has been working to support workers and industry.”
Horgan continued, “Blair Lekstrom has earned the trust and respect of residents in the Northeast. I can think of no one better to consult directly with, and fairly represent, the interests of people here.”
In his role as community liaison, Lekstrom will consult with community leaders and local stakeholders on the draft agreements, provide input into the economic impact analysis and advise how the Province can meet its obligation to protect southern mountain caribou, while also protecting local jobs and communities.
Again, going back to MLA Clovechok, he believes that what’s happening is that with the threat up in the Peace Country, of losing up to 500 jobs, someone from the federal government said to Horgan:
“If you’re losing up to 500 jobs it on you, it will not be on us. We’re kicking the SNC-Lavalin thing down the road; we don’t need anymore controversy”
And controversy it is.
At a wildlife symposium held recently in Cranbrook, six scientists with 300 collective years of field biology experience, informed the audience that .... this is not about habitat loss. As a matter of fact, there’s habitat that hasn’t changed on this landscape, and there’s still no animals (Caribou) on it.
According to Clovechok, everyone of them said this is about predation. You’ve got to get rid of the wolves. And it’s not only the wolves, it’s the bears and cougars too.
"One of the interesting outcomes was that the bureaucrats admitted out loud that predation is the predominant factor in the decline of Caribou – especially from wolves”.
How will that hit the B.C. NDP’s base support however if wolves are specifically targeted?
According to Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Director Steve Forseth:
“I don’t think the premieres recent changes will placate how very
frustrated rural residents feel about this topic. Generally, the view is that the current
provincial government is beholden to residents in Metro Vancouver and southern
Vancouver Island”.
And Clovechok indicated that despite a respectful audience, one older fellow that was talking about trapping and such, stated in colourful language that if they thought they were going to get me off my land in the back-country, they’d have to put a bullet in me first.
People in rural B.C. have a well-founded mistrust of government because they’ve seen the impacts of legislation that has in some cases disrupted their entire lifestyle ... they’ve seen government services removed, especially schools ... they’ve seen resource projects stalled on the drawing board until they simply were withdrawn by the companies proposing them, and if not that, legislation has been put in place to kill them.
As Clovechok said to me, “Government doesn’t know how to manage wildlife because it’s so political – and a single species effort of saving them one at a time – is not going to work”.
Last world to the Peace River ... and B.C. Conservative Party leader Trevor Bolin of Ft. St. John, “It’s time the government gives answers, the people of BC deserve the truth”.
“I would close with reminding British Columbia’s to be loud, be proud and don’t just accept what government tells you has to happen in your own backyard ... question them, challenge them and be the change”, he concluded
And Clovechok indicated that despite a respectful audience, one older fellow that was talking about trapping and such, stated in colourful language that if they thought they were going to get me off my land in the back-country, they’d have to put a bullet in me first.
People in rural B.C. have a well-founded mistrust of government because they’ve seen the impacts of legislation that has in some cases disrupted their entire lifestyle ... they’ve seen government services removed, especially schools ... they’ve seen resource projects stalled on the drawing board until they simply were withdrawn by the companies proposing them, and if not that, legislation has been put in place to kill them.
As Clovechok said to me, “Government doesn’t know how to manage wildlife because it’s so political – and a single species effort of saving them one at a time – is not going to work”.
Last world to the Peace River ... and B.C. Conservative Party leader Trevor Bolin of Ft. St. John, “It’s time the government gives answers, the people of BC deserve the truth”.
“I would close with reminding British Columbia’s to be loud, be proud and don’t just accept what government tells you has to happen in your own backyard ... question them, challenge them and be the change”, he concluded
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