Tag Archives: Wilderness Committee

Finances, Politics

The Rich & Connected Appear To Run British Columbia

By Roy L Hales

More than a week has passed since the New York Times carried the story. The author, Dan Levin, told Global News, “If this were in Russia or China or the Balkans or some developing-world country, it would just be written off as nepotism or corruption, but here (in British Columbia), because it’s not illegal, it seems to just get a pass.” Corporate and union donations to political parties are banned in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario, but not in British Columbia. NDP MLA David Eby believes the corruption runs much deeper than the $50,000-a-year “commission” Premier Clark receives from her party’s campaign chest. The rich & connected appear to run British Columbia.

Continue reading The Rich & Connected Appear To Run British Columbia →
Environment

Canada Approved Kinder Morgan’s Pipeline Expansion

screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3-43-47-pm1

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley applauded the Prime Minister’s “extraordinary leadership.” Peter McCartney of the Wilderness Committee calls it “a betrayal of promises made in the last election to act on science, gain public approval and respect Indigenous rights.” There are already 7 legal challenges of this project underway, and more will follow. The government of Canada approved Kinder Morgan’s pipeline expansion, “subject to 157 binding conditions.”

Continue reading Canada Approved Kinder Morgan’s Pipeline Expansion →
Finances, Forests

Potentially Embarrassing Questions About BC’s Stumpage Rates

3 Comments

By Roy L Hales

screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3-43-47-pm1

During a recent interview, Campbell River film maker Damien Gillis said “there would be a great deal of outrage” if the public knew the degree to which we subsidize logging old growth forests. These subsidies come in the form of lower stumpage fees for the remote areas where most of our surviving ancient forests still persist.  Gillis also informed me this is a central issue in the United States’ softwood dispute with Canada. After the interview, I drew up a series of potentially embarrassing questions about BC’s stumpage rates.

Continue reading Potentially Embarrassing Questions About BC’s Stumpage Rates →
Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Visiting Philips Arm Salmon Farm

12 Comments

By Roy L Hales

screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3-43-47-pm

My interest in British Columbia’s fish farms began with Alexandra Morton’s fim “Salmon Confidential Documentary” and you can find a distillation of her arguments, as well as other articles critical of this industry on this website. I recently became convinced there is another side to this story that we haven’t been hearing. So, at Marine Harvest’s invitation, I went visiting Philips Arm Salmon Farm.

Continue reading Visiting Philips Arm Salmon Farm →
Forests

Clearcutting The Walbran’s Thousand-Year-Old Trees

9 Comments

By Roy L Hales

Screen-shot-2014-03-18-at-3.43.47-PM

It has been a year since the Wilderness Committee drew our attention to the planned logging of old growth trees in the central Walbran Valley. So far, the controversial heli-block 4424 has remained untouched. Since last November, Teal Jones has been logging 6 or 7 cutblocks in the more easily accessible areas south of the river.  They are already clearcutting the Walbran’s thousand-year-old trees.

Continue reading Clearcutting The Walbran’s Thousand-Year-Old Trees →