KAMLOOPS B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, released the B.C. Green Party Strategy to Build Resilience today in Kamloops. The plan focuses on sustainable management of the province’s natural resources sector.

“Government should be responsible for sustainably managing the province’s resources, for the benefit of both present and future generations of British Columbians,” said Weaver.

“A sustainable economy must also be a resilient economy. We need an economy that identifies the challenges we face, and develops strategies to mitigate risk. The B.C. Green Party natural resource strategy will ensure that B.C.’s natural resources are managed in a sustainable way, so that British Columbians can enjoy a strong economy and a high quality of life for generations to come.”

Weaver made the announcement at Thompson Rivers University alongside B.C. Greens spokesperson for Forestry Dan Hines (candidate, Kamloops-North Thompson).

Key elements of the platform include:

Resilient management of natural resources

Work with industrial sectors that will be impacted by climate change to develop integrated climate risk management and resilience plans to preserve long term economic and environmental sustainability, and promote best practices. Implement new guidelines for the use of qualified professionals that eliminate the potential for conflict of interest, and work with professional bodies to ensure that codes of conduct for their members are fully enforced. Re-establish the integrity of the Environmental Assessment process and establish clear criteria for decisions that fully factor in sustainability and cumulative impacts. Establish a natural resource sector wide compliance and enforcement unit that will be responsible for the continuum of compliance and enforcement activities, from inspections to prosecutions. An additional $20 million will be allocated to enhance monitoring, compliance and enforcement. Establish a Natural Resource Commissioner who will lead a Natural Resources Board (NRB) that is responsible for establishing sustainable harvest and extraction levels and reporting on the state of BC’s environment and natural assets. The NRB will conduct cumulative impact assessments, and oversee the professional reliance model. Rebuild the scientific and technical capability of the B.C. Public Service. Reform the governance of the oil and gas sector to remove conflicting interests within the Oil and Gas Commission.

Forestry industry

Enact a modern, evidence based, multi-objective BC Forest and Range Ecology Act. Develop a BC Old-Growth Forest Inventory that will determine reserves and protect BC’s old-growth forests. Place further restrictions on the export of raw logs, while recognizing that raw log exports are a symptom of a struggling value added forest industry and not the cause. effective October 1, 2017, remove the PST from purchases of machinery and equipment for modernization, upgrading and new investment in sawmills and other value added wood processing. Establish a Forest Opportunities Panel mandated to identify opportunities for promoting innovation, value added production, independent regional operations and indigenous enterprises. Invest in a more extensive forest research network to encourage innovation regarding non-traditional uses of wood and the use of wood fibre to develop new grades of material for a wide range of products; and to promote advanced wood technologies and building systems. Institute policies to ensure that forest waste is used productively. Promote B.C. forest products in international markets and support the identification of new markets. We will work co-operatively with the federal government and industry to secure fair, stable and beneficial trade agreements. Review and modernize forest tenures with a view to promoting innovation, value added, independent regional operations and indigenous enterprises. Engage in meaningful consultation and engagement that respects indigenous resource rights and title; will collaborate with First Nations to build economic, environmental and social opportunities and commercial partnerships in the forest sector; and will support more community forests. Support small, rural resource-dependent communities, by building skills and capacity for a future forest industry and promoting

Water management

Work with professional associations and local governments to ensure that the design of stormwater, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure fully accounts for the risks of a changing climate. Review the water allocation and licensing provisions of the Water Sustainability Act to ensure that they fully protect BC’s water quality and quantity, so that it is sustainable for future generations. Initiate comprehensive, province wide water and watershed planning in collaboration with local governments, First Nations, and other government agencies, stewardship organizations, water use sectors and community stakeholders. Enhance data gathering and analysis of water quantity and quality to enable science based decision-making.

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Attached:

Media contact

Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary

+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@bcgreens.ca