In recent weeks, the renegotiation of the 54-year-old Columbia River Treaty between Canada and the US began in earnest. Although it is early in the renegotiation process, it is crucial for Canada to establish now which issues are on the table—and who is at the table. When the original treaty was signed, there were only … Continued
Last week, the B.C. government released its review of the professional reliance system, a system that has put industry in charge of water, fish and wildlife in British Columbia. The report, written by Mark Haddock, makes it clear that the professional reliance system has failed us, and that, because they are hired by the very … Continued
This week, Jumbo will be before the court in Glacier Resorts Ltd. vs. the BC Minister of the Environment. Glacier Resorts, the company who dreamed up the now legendary large-scale resort proposal for the contested Jumbo Valley will be arguing before the BC Supreme Court that the decision made by former Environment Minister Mary Pollack … Continued
The devastating losses of mountain caribou over the past year in the South Purcells and South Selkirks highlight the total failure of British Columbia’s caribou recovery efforts. Despite the obvious urgency, the BC Government’s new proposed Caribou Recovery Program is only a statement of high-level principles and a plan to make a plan—with no real action … Continued
Randal Macnair has joined Wildsight as the new Elk Valley Conservation Coordinator. “I am thrilled to have Randal join our team,” says Robyn Duncan, Wildsight’s Executive Director. “Randal brings a deep commitment to the Elk Valley, a lifetime of community service and a passion to engage the community in real dialogue about taking action to … Continued
The Columbia River Treaty renegotiation has begun, with the first substantive meetings between Canada and the US at the end of May. More than five decades after the treaty was first signed, we can finally ask ourselves: what should a modern Columbia River Treaty look like? The original treaty has only two priorities: power generation … Continued
Wildsight mourns the loss of a passionate and courageous leader of the environmental community. Juri Peepre, who passed away peacefully on May 13 at his home at the foot of the Rocky Mountains near Windermere, inspired us with his deep understanding and strategic approach to pressing environmental issues. Juri’s actions always reflected a deep humility … Continued
British Columbia has vowed to stop Kinder Morgan from building a bitumen pipeline across our province, over pollution and climate concerns. But on the other side of the province, in the Kootenays, pollution of a different kind is flowing from BC into Montana. From Teck’s five open-pit Elk Valley coal mines, selenium-contaminated water is flowing … Continued
Last Friday, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna declared an “imminent threat” to mountain caribou recovery, ordering the BC government to take immediate action to protect core mountain caribou habitat—or the federal government will step in and do it for them. Mountain caribou populations have been steadily declining since they were first listed as a threatened species … Continued
The results of the spring caribou count are in—there are only four caribou left in the South Purcells herd. This comes less than two weeks after the tragic news that there are just three animals left in the South Selkirks herd. This is a devastating loss for BC’s two southernmost remaining caribou herds and a … Continued
