Horgan states, “Everyone in the Peace region agrees that we need to recover our caribou herds and protect local jobs” ... at least a few are disagreeing with that statement however
The BC NDP government has today announced it
will be implementing an interim moratorium on new resource development in parts
of northeastern British Columbia, while providing more time to protect jobs and
support workers as it engages with affected communities and industries on
long-term caribou protection strategies.
When I asked him this afternoon, BC Conservative leader Trevor Bolin detailed his concerns, “This is just another example of the Premier ramming in economy changing legislation without taking the time for thorough community discussions”.
“In the past year we have seen the BC NDP ram through and increase in the Carbon Tax without consultation to see how it affects families, we have witnessed lawsuits costing BC tax payers huge amounts of money, and now we see the Premier pushing to pass legislation that will affect people all across a wide range of use by not just slowing down and listening to what the people of British Columbia are saying”.
The Lekstrom report on Caribou recovery, unveiled by government, indicated there was to be a broader plan to continue work with the Saulteau, and West Moberly First Nations, to protect the region’s Caribou herds.
The report on Caribou recovery makes 14 recommendations, including calling for the interim moratorium. Additionally, the government plans to sign the Southern Mountain Caribou Bilateral Conservation Agreement (Section 11). This agreement establishes a framework for co-operation between Canada and BC to work collaboratively with Indigenous nations, local governments, industry and communities to develop Southern Mountain Caribou management plans.
“Blair Lekstrom has recommended that we press the pause button on new resource development and take more time to engage with affected communities and industries, while taking necessary steps to protect Caribou,” stated Premier John Horgan.
When I asked him this afternoon, BC Conservative leader Trevor Bolin detailed his concerns, “This is just another example of the Premier ramming in economy changing legislation without taking the time for thorough community discussions”.
“In the past year we have seen the BC NDP ram through and increase in the Carbon Tax without consultation to see how it affects families, we have witnessed lawsuits costing BC tax payers huge amounts of money, and now we see the Premier pushing to pass legislation that will affect people all across a wide range of use by not just slowing down and listening to what the people of British Columbia are saying”.
The Lekstrom report on Caribou recovery, unveiled by government, indicated there was to be a broader plan to continue work with the Saulteau, and West Moberly First Nations, to protect the region’s Caribou herds.
The report on Caribou recovery makes 14 recommendations, including calling for the interim moratorium. Additionally, the government plans to sign the Southern Mountain Caribou Bilateral Conservation Agreement (Section 11). This agreement establishes a framework for co-operation between Canada and BC to work collaboratively with Indigenous nations, local governments, industry and communities to develop Southern Mountain Caribou management plans.
“Blair Lekstrom has recommended that we press the pause button on new resource development and take more time to engage with affected communities and industries, while taking necessary steps to protect Caribou,” stated Premier John Horgan.
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| Southern Cariboo Habitat |
“Everyone in the Peace region agrees that we need to recover our caribou herds and protect local jobs. Regrettably, this issue has divided communities and provoked sentiments that have no place in British Columbia. The only way we will make progress is by working together. We must listen and work collaboratively to find the best solution”, Horgan continued.
However, Columbia River - Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok, definitely sees things differently. When I asked him about that so-called agreement by everyone in the Peace River, that Horgan was attempting to convince us of, he stated:
“The only certainty that the announced moratoriums create, is more uncertainty”.
“What will be next? This is nothing more than a kick in the guts for rural British Columbians who are already reeling and down from massive cuts in the forestry sector”.
According to BC NDP Premier John Horgan, Chief
Ken Cameron of the Saulteau First Nation and Chief Roland Willson of the West
Moberly First Nation have provided visionary leadership on Caribou recovery.
“We are asking them to work with our government and the federal government as we engage with community, industry and stakeholder groups to protect this iconic species, while supporting a healthy local economy”, Premier Horgan stated.
Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNROD), observed, “We’re taking these actions because we want to protect the Caribou herds while limiting potential economic impacts. This allows us to look after the interests of workers and communities as we take real action to recover the herds.”
Again, in speaking with Clovechok, he found it ironic that, “... NDP Premier John Horgan had to hire a former BC Liberal Cabinet Minister to do work that his Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Minister drastically bungled in terms of the Caribou file.
And in doing so, “Horgan today admitted his government has failed British Columbians, which we have been telling him for the past year”.
According to the provincial government, Caribou numbers in the central group of the southern mountain caribou population have faced serious declines in the past 20 years. That means, prohibiting new high-impact forestry and mining activities is required while public engagement, Indigenous consultation and negotiations on a long-term caribou management strategy are underway.
When I spoke with MLA Clovechok earlier this Spring, he seemed to have a much clearer idea of what the problem is, rather than the one being offered by the government: “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”.
And at a wildlife symposium in Cranbrook during the initial consultations, 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”.
Today’s announcement follows public engagement on Caribou recovery and the Draft Section 11 Agreement and Draft Partnership Agreement, which began in March 2019.
In April, Premier Horgan announced the appointment of Lekstrom as community liaison. Lekstrom was tasked with engaging residents of the Peace region on a draft Partnership Agreement between British Columbia, Canada, West Moberly First Nation and Saulteau First Nation.
Speaking with me today, BC Conservative Party leader Trevor Bolin indicated he is hoping for a different approach, “We seem to have come to an ‘environment VS. economy stand off’ in this province. The BC Conservatives know it doesn’t have to be one or the other, we can have both and see BC flourish in all aspects”.
Still, according to the provincial government, it intends to continue engaging with communities and stakeholders and expects to sign the partnership agreement following that engagement. That process will include identifying opportunities to mitigate industrial impacts as a result of the moratoriums. Lekstrom will continue to act as a liaison between government and communities on caribou protection plans.
“We are asking them to work with our government and the federal government as we engage with community, industry and stakeholder groups to protect this iconic species, while supporting a healthy local economy”, Premier Horgan stated.
Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNROD), observed, “We’re taking these actions because we want to protect the Caribou herds while limiting potential economic impacts. This allows us to look after the interests of workers and communities as we take real action to recover the herds.”
Again, in speaking with Clovechok, he found it ironic that, “... NDP Premier John Horgan had to hire a former BC Liberal Cabinet Minister to do work that his Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Minister drastically bungled in terms of the Caribou file.
And in doing so, “Horgan today admitted his government has failed British Columbians, which we have been telling him for the past year”.
According to the provincial government, Caribou numbers in the central group of the southern mountain caribou population have faced serious declines in the past 20 years. That means, prohibiting new high-impact forestry and mining activities is required while public engagement, Indigenous consultation and negotiations on a long-term caribou management strategy are underway.
When I spoke with MLA Clovechok earlier this Spring, he seemed to have a much clearer idea of what the problem is, rather than the one being offered by the government: “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”.
And at a wildlife symposium in Cranbrook during the initial consultations, 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”.
Today’s announcement follows public engagement on Caribou recovery and the Draft Section 11 Agreement and Draft Partnership Agreement, which began in March 2019.
In April, Premier Horgan announced the appointment of Lekstrom as community liaison. Lekstrom was tasked with engaging residents of the Peace region on a draft Partnership Agreement between British Columbia, Canada, West Moberly First Nation and Saulteau First Nation.
Speaking with me today, BC Conservative Party leader Trevor Bolin indicated he is hoping for a different approach, “We seem to have come to an ‘environment VS. economy stand off’ in this province. The BC Conservatives know it doesn’t have to be one or the other, we can have both and see BC flourish in all aspects”.
Still, according to the provincial government, it intends to continue engaging with communities and stakeholders and expects to sign the partnership agreement following that engagement. That process will include identifying opportunities to mitigate industrial impacts as a result of the moratoriums. Lekstrom will continue to act as a liaison between government and communities on caribou protection plans.
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| Southern Caribou - image Parks Canada |
And about that liaising
with communities on Caribou protection plans, and how that’s going. According
to Clovechok ... “There’s absolutely nothing about the
Caribou issue in Revelstoke and Shuswap”.
EARLIER STORIES
regarding, or including discussion about, Caribou herds:
April 17th, 2019: 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!
May 7th, 2019: I was born and raised into the forest industry. I have seen many cycles.
I have never seen the situation as precarious in BC as it is right now says Nechako Lake MLA Rustad
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