April 27, 2010
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION A PRIORITY IN SEA TO SKY

VICTORIA – The B.C Government will further its commitment to protecting the environment for future generations with the expansion of parks and protected areas in the Sea to Sky corridor.

“Our government has been clear that we will protect the environment for the future,” says West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre.”These areas of the province are exceptional in their beauty and they deserve to be preserved for generations.”

The B.C. government introduced legislation, Bill 15, the Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act, 2010, that will establish seven new “Class A” provincial parks, one new conservancy and expand 12 existing provincial parks including:.

Brandywine Falls Park: Situated along the Brandywine River 15 kilometres south of Whistler, is being expanded by 267 hectares to protect critical habitat for the blue-listed Red-legged Frog and other amphibians. The area includes small lakes, wetlands and forested uplands. A section of the Sea-to-Sky Trail travels through the park addition. The total area of the park will be 420 hectares.

Mkwal’ts Conservancy (3,874 hectares): This new conservancy is being established as an outcome of the province’s Land Use Agreement with Lil’wat Nation as part of the Sea-to-Sky Land and Resource Management Plan. The conservancy is situated within the traditional territory of the Lil’wat Nation and protects a significant cultural site in the Ure Creek watershed. It is adjacent to Garibaldi Park, about 75 kilometres north of the City of Vancouver, and includes old growth hemlock forest that provides habitat for a range of species including mountain goat and spotted owl.

If Bill 15 passes, the B.C. government will have established 65 new parks, 144 conservancies, two ecological reserves and nine protected areas, and expanded more than 60 parks and six ecological reserves, protecting more than 1.9 million hectares of additional land since 2001.

“In British Columbia we are leading North America in environmental protection,” continued McIntyre. “Whether it’s our worldwide recognized carbon tax or our commitment to clean energy and land protection, it’s clear we are building a better B.C. for our children.”

For more information on the Protected Areas of British Columbia Amendment Act visit http://ht.ly/1DSDN. 

For more information on the riding of West Vancouver-Sea to Sky visit Joan’s website at www.joanmcintyremla.bc.ca.

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