BCWF Executive Director Jesse Zeman says the town halls aim to inform the public about the long-term decline in funding for renewable resource management, including air, land, water, fish, and wildlife.
The federation and the conservation community have outlined three key demands for provincial wildlife management:
- Wildlife management must be conducted by an agency independent of government influence.
- Funding dedicated to fish and wildlife should be increased and guided by legislated objectives.
- Public access to public resources must be enshrined in law.
Zeman states that B.C.’s current wildlife management and funding model is “the single biggest embarrassment as it relates to funding fish and wildlife management in North America” and calls for the next government to develop a dedicated funding model.
“British Columbia is missing what nearly every other jurisdiction in North America has: a dedicated funding model for fish and wildlife management. Our neighbours all around us spend more per person, more per square kilometre, and more per species, so dedicating funding is crucial for the future sustainability of fish and wildlife.”
Funding and Decision Making
Zeman points out that there is currently no effective mechanism to ensure that the province secures a future for fish and wildlife populations and that legislative objectives need to be set for these populations.
The federation is also advocating for more science-based decision-making in fish and wildlife policy. According to Zeman, the province has drifted away from science-based decisions in recent years, contributing to the spread of misinformation.
“The other piece is we’d like to see decision-making around fish and wildlife return to a scientific basis. We have drifted into areas where people are making claims that are untrue and inconsistent with science. We believe there’s an opportunity to move decision-making further away from the political process and more into the hands of those who are knowledgeable in science, to ensure a sustainable future for fish and wildlife.”
The BCWF has approached all parties regarding the conservation community’s and federations’ perspectives on fish and wildlife management. According to Zeman, B.C. United was the only party to submit a response.
“I think everyone in the political sphere is aware of our perspective on how to care for fish and wildlife and ensure that science drives decisions while also considering the public’s interest in outdoor recreation. They’ve all stated they would respond, but the only response we have received to date was from a party that no longer exists. We are still awaiting responses from all the parties.”
Local MLAs and candidates for office have been invited to the BCWF town halls, which aim to ensure candidates hear the concerns of ordinary British Columbians.
Zeman noted that this will provide a valuable opportunity for local candidates to address the topic and engage with their communities.
The first town hall will be held at the Castlegar and District Community Complex on October 1 at 7 p.m., followed by another on October 2 in Nelson at 801 Railway Street.
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