Letter to the Premier and Response

Alexander Johnson

XXX XXX Street

New Westminster, BC

XXX XXX

(XXX) XXX-XXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXX@gmail.com

Dear Premier Horgan,

RE: Great First Steps on Habitat and Wildlife in BC

In the last year the provincial government has made some fantastic steps in the right direction when it comes to habitat and wildlife.  I want to say thank you and say that I hope your government will keep up the momentum on issues related to habitat and wildlife issues in BC.  We still lag behind many of our neighbours in funding and concrete plans for the recovery of the habitat, rivers, and streams that our wildlife and fish need to thrive. 

Specifically, I would like to thank you for the $14 million in increased funding for conservation, the $27 million allocated for caribou recovery, and the provincial round table which is looking at the declines in moose populations. 

Now is time to build on those steps and make even more significant improvements which will protect habitat and restore wildlife populations.  Specifically, I would like to advocate for the following:

1)     Ending the professional reliance model where resource companies can hire their own experts to evaluate the impact of their own projects.  This is an obvious conflict of interest.  Provincial registered profession biologists should be given the power to oversee and minimize the impact of the resource sector on habitat.

2)     Dedicated funding for habitat conservation from a slight increase in price of fishing and hunting licences as well as resource extraction royalties to offset impacts and enhance habitat.  Please give the scientists and wildlife managers the funding needed to ensure habitat and wildlife populations recover and thrive.

3)     Enhanced investigative and enforcement powers for conservation officers and registered professional biologists to investigate instances when property owners or resource industry activities violate laws or practice standards.  There are numerous cases of property owners violating protective covenants in the Fraser valley, damaging critical chinook salmon bearing creeks, while municipalities have looked the other way.

As a hunter, angler, conservationist, and British Columbian these issues are of critical importance to me as well as my friends and family. 

Sincerely,

Alex Johnson 

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to ENV, me

Dear Mr. Johnson:

Thank you for writing about conversation in British Columbia. We appreciate your taking the time to write and have noted your recommendations.

On your behalf, we have shared a copy of your message with the Honourable George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. His staff will ensure that your comments are included in any upcoming, related discussions.

Thank you, again, for writing. We wish you all the best.

pc:       Honourable George Heyman

OfficeofthePremier, Office PREM:EX

10:40 (1 hour ago)

Spicy Breaded Rainbow Trout

I caught this rainbow trout near Vanderhoof BC.  This is one of my favourite ways to make trout.

Ingredients
-1 Rainbow Trout
-1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
-1/3 Cup of Grainy Mustard
-1/2 Cup of Seasoned Breadcrumbs
-1 Tbsp. Red Pepper Flakes
-Salt
-Olive  Oil

Steps

1) Filet and debone. Use cooking tweezers or clean needle nose pliers to remove the pin bones.

2) Remove skin.

3) Portion into 6 equal weight pieces. 

3) Combine mustard and lemon juice in a bowl.  Mix together.
4) Combine seasoned bread crumbs and red pepper flakes on a plate and season to taste with salt.  Mix together.

 

5) Put the trout into the lemon and mustard mixture. 

6) Heat olive oil in a pan on medium high heat.

7) When olive oil just begins to slightly smoke, bread the trout evenly and place in the pan.  Do not overcrowd the pan.  

8) Adjust heat to ensure the trout does not burn.  If the pan is smoking after trout is added, reduce heat slightly. It only takes a few minutes per side.  Check regularly. Cook until golden brown on the under side and then flip.

9) Cook until the second side is golden brown and then serve.

 10) Enjoy!

BCWF RESPONDS: Government Deliberately Fails to Protect BC`s Native Fish

 

BCWF RESPONDS: Government Deliberately Fails to Protect BC`s Native Fish
 

On behalf of its client, the BC Wildlife Federation, the University of Victoria Environmental Law Centre has submitted a request for examination of Canada’s failure to protect endangered Pacific salmon and anadromous trout species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.

The University of Victoria Environmental Law Centre’s Legal Director, Calvin Sandborn, put together the 57-page submission on BCWF’s behalf, detailing the federal government's, and its designated management agency the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, systematic refusal to protect and restore at-risk West Coast marine fish species.

To read the full submission, click the link here https://buff.ly/2HMSash

#SaveBCFish #SaveBCSteelhead #SARA

Conservation Advocacy Meeting in Vancouver

Left to Right: Ferg, Dylan, Larri, Rob, me (Alex), Jesse

Yesterday evening I attended a productive meeting with some of Vancouver’s best habitat and wildlife advocates. The meeting was organized by Jesse Zeman of the BCWF and included Dylan Eyers of EatWild and noted conservationists and habitat activists such as Larri Woodrow of the Mission & District Rod & Gun Club and Salmon River Enhancement Society Langley, Rob Chipman, and Ferg McDonnell.  We discussed upcoming political issues, strategies, and what to do next. Ultimately, we all need to encourage as many people as possible to meet with their MLAs and express their concerns about the declining state of BC’s habitat. 

One new fact I learned from Jesse last night is that BC had protected a significant amount of caribou habitat... but it will take about 85 years to regrow to get to the point where it is viable to support caribou populations. Tragic

We need to act now. 

On that note, I just came across this today.  This is a great place for us all to provide some additional feedback.

Share your ideas on the Draft Caribou Recovery Program.
The provincial government is embarking on a new program to recover and conserve woodland caribou in British Columbia, and we would like your feedback.
The Caribou Recovery Program is a long-term commitment that will include all B.C. caribou herds in a comprehensive and uniform approach to conservation, based on traditional knowledge and science. The province has already committed to $27 million to ensure a strong start.
We value your knowledge, your experiences, and your ideas.

Please share your comments on the draft Discussion Paper.

To share your thoughts, click on the Draft Discussion paper link (above or in the sidebar) and there you can comment on each paragraph by selecting the comment icon, accepting the Terms of Use and submitting your comment. Each comment will be reviewed against the Moderation Policy and all approved comments will be posted publically for all to read.

Your comments will be reviewed and reflected in the final paper that we are targeting for completion in spring 2019.

Feedback will be accepted until June 15 at 4pm.

BCWF: Decline in Biodiversity and Endangered Species in British Columbia

Did you know?

Our Province is in a State of Environmental Crisis.
 

• Over the past 5 years the population in BC has grown exponentially, doubling in size from 2.2 to over 4.8 million people.
   
• In the past 20 years, over 20% of government jobs dedicated to natural resource management have been removed. While at the same time, funding for natural resource management was cut in half.
   
• There are approximately 230 species at risk in BC including several iconic animals: central mountain caribou, sturgeon, mule deer, steelhead, and many more. This list continues to grow every year.
   
• Today,only 45 steelhead remain in the Chilcotin river and only 144 steelhead in the Thompson. One of British Columbia's most iconic populations of steelhead is almost completely wiped-out forever.
   

Everyday the BCWF is working to advocate on behalf of British Columbia's fish and wildlife. Some of the projects we are working include but are not limited to:

• Combating devastating development on the Fraser River to protect sturgeon habitat.
   
• Working to protect what's left of the Chilcotin Steelhead by recognizing them as endangered species.
   
• Learning how to restore mule deer populations in BC by studying how landscape change and the predator prey community are affecting our current populations.
   
• Leading numerous wetlands activities that result in habitat restoration, enhancement and conservation projects.
   
• Working with the BC Government and local communities to help increase the abundancy of fish and wildlife that presently continue to decline.

Help be the voice of BC's fish and wildlife and speak for those who can't speak for themselves.

 

Did you know that BC is in a state of environmental crisis?

Help the BCWF advocate on behalf of British Columbia's fish and wildlife and

speak for those who can't speak for themselves.