Editor’s note: This is a letter to local MLA Jordan Sturdy, Premier Christy Clark and B.C. Environment Minister Mary Polak. It was copied to The Chief for publication.
Firstly, I am calling on all of you to reverse Bill 4.
Bill 4 effectively undermines the very definition of what a park is, which can be defined as “a protected area managed at the provincial level to preserve a location on account of natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential.”
Bill 4 undermines 100 years of public participation to establish parks in this province to preserve our wilderness and our heritage for future generations. Why has this bill been pushed through so quickly and with no public consultation? How is this in the best interests of B.C. citizens?
Did you know that we have six provincial parks within the boundaries of the District of Squamish? What will this mean for our community?
Secondly, I am writing to ask how this relates to LNG expansion in B.C.
I watched with interest MLA Jordan Sturdy’s statement on LNG development in B.C. In particular, I was interested in his statement that reads, “Mr. Speaker, our government’s aspiration to build an LNG export industry are taking place with steady and concentrated actions to ensure that British Columbia is ready to compete on a global scale. Policy changes, development of legislation and regulation, promotions, training and human resources, and much environmental assessment and protection work is taking place.”
Given that Bill 4 passed the day after MLA Sturdy’s statement, this appears to the first of several policy changes to push the B.C. Liberals’ misguided and short-sighted mandate to rapidly expand LNG exports in this province.
Please explain how this policy change is related to “protection work?” Note that I do not include the term “environment” in front, because from where I’m sitting, the “protection work” you are doing appears to be related to helping foreign companies and vested interests, and not related to protecting either B.C. as a province, or the people you are meant to represent.
I look forward to your personal responses to these many questions.
Tracey Saxby
Squamish
