Protect Our Parks

by: West Coast Environmental Law

recipient: Premier Christie Clark, Environment Minister Mary Polak

BC's protected areas, from urban parks such as Cypress to the rugged Mount Robson, provide invaluable environmental, social and economic benefits. Enjoyed by over 19 million visitors every year,1 BC's parks and conservation areas are a public trust that the provincial government has a legal duty protect for the benefit of British Columbians.2



But the provincial government wants to pave the way for our protected lands to become industrial corridors. It has proposed legal changes that would reduce protection for smaller parks, allow "research" such as drilling, surveying and exploration to occur in protected areas and make it easier for the government to "adjust" park boundaries at industry's request.3



The changes follow recent revelations that the BC government is expecting applications from industry to change the boundaries of dozens of protected areas to allow pipelines, transmission lines and other resource projects to cut through them.4



The government might be debating these changes as early as this week (week of March 3rd). If you want to keep BC's parks safe, they need to hear from you.



Send your message to the BC government that protected areas belong to British Columbians and do not exist at the whim of politicians.



BC Parks, "BC Parks: More than Just a Pretty Place"

BC Parks, "BC Parks Mission and Mandate"

Vancouver Sun, "B.C. legislation would allow oil and gas to conduct preliminary research in parks." (13 February 2014)

Vancouver Sun, "Boundary changes for industrial corridors expected for at least 35 B.C. protected areas" (18 December 2013)

read petition letter ▾



I am writing you today to urge you to reject the proposed amendments to BC's Park Act in Bill 4 that would pave the way for industrial activities in BC's protected areas.

BC's protected areas are a public trust held by the government for the benefit of its citizens. British Columbians benefit from the environmental, social and economic services parks provide, not from industrial and other "research" activities within their boundaries.



[your comment will be added here]



Bill 4 would reduce protection of smaller parks, allow "research" such as drilling, surveying and exploration to occur in protected areas and make it easier for the government to "adjust" park boundaries at industry's request. I urge you to reject these changes and uphold your duty to maintain protected areas for the benefit of British Columbians.



Sincerely,



[Your name] Dear Premier Clark and Minister Polak,I am writing you today to urge you to reject the proposed amendments to BC's Park Act in Bill 4 that would pave the way for industrial activities in BC's protected areas.BC's protected areas are a public trust held by the government for the benefit of its citizens. British Columbians benefit from the environmental, social and economic services parks provide, not from industrial and other "research" activities within their boundaries.[your comment will be added here]Bill 4 would reduce protection of smaller parks, allow "research" such as drilling, surveying and exploration to occur in protected areas and make it easier for the government to "adjust" park boundaries at industry's request. I urge you to reject these changes and uphold your duty to maintain protected areas for the benefit of British Columbians.Sincerely,[Your name]