With a provincial election coming up on May 12th, the Watershed Sentinel decided to do its civic duty, and a simple run-down on the party platforms for the environment. Of course, it turned out to be anything but simple, although each party did reveal its natur, goe in the responses to our questions. Actually, our questions consisted of an entirely unscientific list of topics of eco-concern, with the questions, "What are you promising to do about it?" And "Is there anything else you want to add?"
The BC Liberals didn't have much they wanted to talk about. "We are currently in the process of formulating our policy platform for the forthcoming election, and as such, we are not responding to such platform questions at this time," wrote Chad Pederson, Director of Communications & Membership Services for the BC Liberal Party. He referred us to the government ministries responsible to determine "the direction they are taking on these issues… They cannot assist you if you ask for the BC Liberal Platform position because that is a function of our party, and as mentioned, we're still formulating it."
Whatever, this reporter shrugged to herself. The record we can figure out for ourselves. As for the reliance on "the market" to do the job of governing – the news of the last six months shows how well that works.
The NDP Environment Critic, Shane Simpson, was able to respond to our questions with gusto, highlighting the party's commitment to sustainability as the building block of their policy. That would be the same sustainability with the three legged stool of Economics, Society and Environment that we saw in action during the 1990s?…..Check. Been there, done that.
The full NDP platform isn't unveiled as of press time, but one innovative notion is the $1 billion Green Bond fund, with money raised from BC investors to provide loans for home and business retrofits, greening public infrastructure, improving public transportation and investing in green technology. At least it's local money for local projects and there's a kind of plan, even if it includes the kitchen sink.
Green Party leader Jane Sterk revealed a detailed vision for reforming the economy to make it work for future generations and all species. The Green Party plans to use "triple bottom line accounting" to put a price on the eco-services nature provides, which would lead to profoundly different decisions, and a relocalized economy with different kinds of ownership, from co-ops to First Nations, "matching the needs of people in community with local production and distribution." This includes the need to assign a high value to local food and keep farmland in production, possibly through long term leasing arrangements. The other items on her mind that didn't really fit our hasty checklist were reforming democracy and supporting the STV, and reforming the corporate charter so that corporations had a responsibility to the environment and community.
That said, here's the thoroughly unscientific chart. Have fun in the ballot booth.
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Party Positions on Some Selected Issues
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Issue
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BC NDP
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BC Green Party
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(BC Liberal) Government Record
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BC’s At Risk Species
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Species at Risk Act developed with EcoJustice and Suzuki. Strong on habitat and science; Will cover private land. Forestry tenure reform; No raw log exports; End old growth logging on Vancouver Island
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Species at Risk Act in line with Wilderness Committee recommendations; Will cover private land.
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Dysfunctional; Obstructed
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Parks
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End to commercialism; Investment in parks, naturalist centres, public education; Entice the public back to parks
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Reduce fees; Reinstate naturalists; Make environmental stewardship a high quality job
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Some parks (53) created; More fees; More staff cuts
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Climate Change and Carbon Tax
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Tax not effective unless hundreds of dollars a tonne, not safe to leave to market where some people can buy way out; Needs regulation: 1) Cap on major emitters 2) CA fuel emission rules 3) Put royalties ($250 million est.) on gas flaring which is 13% of BC GHG emissions
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Yes to carbon tax but currently too many exemptions/rebates all over the place; Must have investment in infrastructure so people have alternatives; Tax- shift the subsidies away from fossil fuel; No new hydro incl. run of river. Change from BC Hydro to BC Energy Authority.
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First carbon tax in North America and carbon reduction planning; Massive highways Gateway project; Pipeline for oil and gas; Renewable energy from private producers mandate for BC hydro; No coal power plants.
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Fish Farming
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Moratorium north of Cape Caution, 2 years pilot then 3 years to transition to floating closed containment; Wild salmon are priority
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Moratorium; Phase out ocean based in favour of closed container on land; Full cost accounting for value of wild fish used as feed
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Expansion
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Coal Exports
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Continue
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Phase out but carefully – fossil fuel exports major part of econ-omy – maybe out in 10-20 years.
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Yes
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Coalbed Methane
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No. Not enough knowledge of how to reinject process water
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Shut it down.
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Yes. Promoting
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Offshore Oil and Gas
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No oil
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Make moratorium in perpetuity.
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Yes
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Oil Tankers (moratorium on the coast)
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No oil or (maybe) condensates; Liquid Natural Gas different, but there are no jobs for BC in it. Not in Georgia Strait.
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No LNG on Texada; No northern pipeline; Save natural gas for BC’s use in face of peak oil and peak gas
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In favour of tankers
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Automobile Alternatives
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The Green Bond: $ 3.5 billion for fast bus and light rail, Vancouver and Victoria
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Invest in transit; Tie in to compact communities; 30 year transition to electric car; Change need for use of automobile.
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Some money to public transit but cuts in recent budget; Olympic "hydrogen highway"
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Ground Water
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Standing Committee for Environment to evaluate water; Watershed Reserves; Evaluate economic activity in watersheds
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Support preservation of watersheds; Provincial pesticide reduction
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Legislation promised in 2011
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Environmental Assessment
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Needs cumulative impact; Experts should feel free to recommend no; Needs to be strengthened, more comprehensive and expedited.
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Mandate EA on all actions that have impacts; Watershed based for cumulative; Use as a filter for all activity; Inclusive of local govt, FN and public.
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Partially Disabled, weakened since 2001
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