I take exception to the blanket belief that BC Conservatives have no care, or concern, for the environment

Photograph by Alan Forseth (near Vernon)

The other day as I mentioned to my Facebook friends, I took a walk through the neighbourhood, and went door to door with the latest BC Conservative Party brochure. Overall, with the folks who were home, the reception I received was great and only two people said “No” to taking a brochure – one politely – the other, not so much.

The one who was less than receptive for some reason had the impression that BC Conservatives had no concern for the environment. This person said they had lived here all their life (as have I) ... they had raised their children here (as have I) ... and their grand-children are here (again as are mine).

Photograph by Alan Forseth (Cariboo Hwy south of Clinton)

I love the outdoors of BC ... I grew up in the Cariboo and every week I'd head out into the outlying areas to enjoy nature ... to go canoeing ... to simply see what there was to see around the next bend.

As a teen in the Cariboo I saw no end of wildlife from grouse and ducks ... to bear, moose, and deer ... along with some great tasting fish.

That is why I take exception to the blanket belief that BC Conservatives have no care, or concern, for the environment.

For example, two woman that I personally know (and not family members) are two of the staunchest environmentalists you could ever meet.  However I do also have family members and friends that hunt and fish, and who rely on the protection of our environment to be able to enjoy these pastimes.

Photograph by Alan Forseth (along
the Kettle Valley Railway Trail)

I also love to photograph the beauty of BC --- the wildflowers ... the fields ... the lakes, creeks and rivers ... the mountains ... trees and shrubs ... even some of the weeds make beautiful photographs.

I am PROUD TO SAY I am a member of the BC Conservative Party ... and the members of our political party no more want to see the beauty around us destroyed, than anyone else – regardless of WHAT party they are part of.

Now ... just for clarity if you have any wondering yourself ... let's take a look at some of the Guiding Principles and Policies, of the BC Conservative Party, regarding the environment:

ARTICLE 1. Guiding Principles

1.1 The new BC Conservative Party is founded on and will be guided in its policy formation by the following principles:

1.1.6. We believe in:

• a competitive free enterprise system as the basis for prosperity and growth.
• protection and management of our environment and natural resources to optimize benefits now and into the future.

ARTICLE 7. Environment.

7.1. Preamble.

We recognize that BC’s diverse environmental assets are the envy of much of the world and should be preserved and protected, and that environmental and fiscal sustainability and optimization should be the hallmark of a government’s policy. To ensure this, our government will work with the public, landowners, involved business interests and other stakeholder groups.

When John spoke, it was with authority and as a leader ... he was not going to be intimidated!

John Cummins, BC Conservative Party leader

Yesterday evening (March 18^th) John Cummins, leader of the BC Conservative Party, was in Kamloops to speak to the Annual General Meeting of the Wild Sheep Society of BC.

At that meeting Mr. Cummins announced that a new BC Conservative government would create a dedicated anti-poaching squad of Conservation Officers. He said:

“Poachers and those who do not follow hunting rules threaten... our wildlife stocks and a BC Conservative government would give conservation officers the resources to go after poachers,” said Cummins.

“Just as the police have dedicated anti-gang task forces to deal with nothing but organized crime, this is a dedicated team that would do nothing but track and stop poachers. Poachers are organized, so the conservation service needs to be as well.

“The anti-poaching squad would be mobile and be able to travel around the province to hunt poachers of all types of wildlife, from bears, to eagles, to fish

As many of you know, I have been down at the coast the past 10 or 12 days so I was unable to be there, to see how things went, but there are few British Columbian's, especially those who are hunters, that can abide the unlawful, and often times wasteful, activities of poachers.

I was also delighted, this morning, to hear a report back on the “Meet and Greet” that was held with John earlier in the afternoon, yesterday in Kamloops.