CANADA NEEDS A NATURE-FIRST ECONOMY! (Letter to PM Carney++)

In response to Wilderness Committee's STELLAR recent publication, Nature Can't Afford the Banker (Building A Nature-First Economy) written by campaigner Eric Reder, I used their special letter-writing tool here:
WildernessCommittee-BankOnNature to write the letter (below) sent to these recipients:

Mark Carney (Prime Minister), Nepean, Liberal

Julie Dabrusin (Minister of Environment and Climate Change)

Pierre Poilievre (Leader, Conservative Party of Canada)

Marc Dalton (MP), Maple Ridge, Conservative

Feel free to use that link to send your own personalized letter!  It's been shown that when govt officials receive 20 or more letters on a certain issue, they take notice - so don't underestimate the power of your actions:  they CAN make a difference.. [Here's another relevant W.C. article about PM Carney's disastrous new measures that double down on corporate profiteering and accelerated climate crisis while leaving Canadians - incl. Indigenous communities - IN THE DUST:  O&G expansion: NOT in the national interest!]

Here's my letter ~

As a born-and-bred BCer I am deeply dismayed by recent policy developments brought by PM Carney & the federal govt, characterized by glaring omissions of biodiversity loss (Species at Risk), climate & eco-based considerations.  Like a slap in the face, the message stings:  that future-forward nature care & stewardship are not important to Canada's federal govt - contrary to what we were led to believe.

With Earth's web of life literally staggering on the precipice of human-caused demise, these developments are blatantly myopic in the extreme.  As a major culprit, Canada cannot afford to ignore this global crisis any longer!

A gutting example here in Ridge of this backward slide on Climate sticks out like an open wound, just up the road:  a devastating clearcut of a vast swathe of forest along Dewdney Trunk Rd that's left this community reeling over the loss of that endemic ecosystem's assets, & dreading the resultant impacts of looming 'fire season' heat events.  Compounded by this year's record-low snowpack levels.

Such worrying scenarios, escalating across the nation, signal the untimeliness of your retreat on biodiversity & ecosystem protections - falsely in the name of economic growth & affordability.  As the [conservative] World Economic Forum's recently-published Annual Global Risks Report clearly states, the next decade's biggest economic threats are biodiversity loss & climate change!  This backs what Science has stressed for years: there is no economic argument for excluding nature in any govt decisions going forward.

While countless Canadians struggle to get by, PM Carney's nescient focus on costly "nation-building" projects that double down on last-century fossil-fuel reliance offers scant relief for most Canadians while highlighting a gaping disconnect between our climate-affected reality & the federal govt's "new" priorities - at the cost of rolling back hard-won eco-protections & Indigenous commitments!  This dangerous regression is nothing less than abrogation of duty by our public servants!

The costs of climate change are already driving up our bills, through climate-disaster clean-ups like the Hwy 3 washouts costing million$ from public taxes.  Yet your govt continues to pour money & energy into fossil-fuel-run projects that only promise to make the problems worse.

Firm fact:  we've already found proven ways to protect Canada's natural habitats, that reduce emissions & make life actually affordable in this cost-of-living crisis!  And they don't include building O&G-run 'data centers' requiring massive amounts of water (amid BC's ongoing drought emergency!!???)- besides being arms of USA's resource-grabbing hegemony of billionaire-owned Tech giants, with potential consequences that undermine our very democracy!  Canadians of all walks of life are unanimously rejecting A.I. data centres, with good reason:  forcing their egregious climate-wrecking effects across the country is a flagrant misuse of taxpayer's money - with NO tangible benefits!

Please, respect the values Canadians hold dear, including (overwhelmingly) climate action & nature protection - eg. by building/ upgrading homes with sustainable materials & renewable power; & funding our necessary transition to clean green industries +++ - i.e. much-needed measures that support society sustainably AND economically, while aligning with our emissions-reduction commitments.

Therefore I implore your govt to:

• Immediately remove the Impact Assessment exemption from the Build Canada Act;

• Grow both nature & climate budget expenditures to at least two per cent of GDP annually;

• Enforce the Species at Risk Act in all jurisdictions across Canada;

• Establish tests that rate cumulative & downstream emissions for every Major Project;

• Plan to meet our international emissions-reduction commitments;

• Strengthen Impacts Assessments & waste regulations for ALL mining projects in Canada.

Without thriving Nature's priceless benefits, "Canada Strong" will remain unattainable due to our over-reliance on (chemicalized/ outdated) Agricultural exports, Fossil-fuels, over-harvested forests, rejection of Science-advised solutions, & USA's unneeded obsolete imports - i.e. products of ramped-up pollution, contamination, ecocide, GMOs, overdevelopment ETC.  Canada CAN be strong - by countering those failed excesses with quality, locally-made, sustainable production values & future-forward TRANSITION into the clean, green future we CAN achieve. Because we've already proven so!

THAT is where our taxpayers' money should be invested, guaranteeing quality jobs/ re-training in renewables / organic regenerative agriculture / clean public transport / eco-tourism +++ sectors for a healthy economy that LASTS.

For too long, our policies have prioritized short-term GDP growth at the expense of ecological stability & social well-being.  Surely we've LEARNED BY NOW that merely perpetuating same-old last-century unlimited-growth economics will subvert our own success!!??

Leaving legacies of thriving Nature & circular economies represents REAL Science-led prosperity - as opposed to cowering in the face of oppressive billionaire-owned U.S. 'Big-Tech' grifts engendering nothing but more inequality & unaffordability.  We have a global duty to protect what we have left in our priceless biodiversity, forests, grasslands & waters - THOSE are sources of lasting, regenerating value that will build Canada's resilience.. now & in future.

It's time to UPGRADE:  respect Nature's directives instead of recklessly destroying what remains - eg. Canada's last 4% intact Lungs of the Earth - for financial gain of a wealthy/ foreign few.  That's like demolishing the Great Pyramids for the price of their stones:  NIHILISM THAT MAKES NO SENSE - economically or otherwise - at any time!  Today's govts are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring liveability of our world for future generations, & Canada's leadership must be no exception.

The interconnected crises of climate change, resource depletion & economic inequality demand that we transition toward a sustainable, healthy economic model. Our metrics for national success must evolve to prioritize resource conservation, community resilience, and long-term liveability over infinite expansion.

As my elected representatives, I urge you to support policies that move beyond traditional growth metrics & invest in a regenerative economy.  The alternative is unthinkable.

Please live up to your democratically-elected duties, as leaders serving Canadians' best interests!

Thank you very much.

[SaRah (Saz) ChesTeRman]

Before & after shots of that Maple Ridge clearcut: [Pix by me]

BEFORE:

 

                                 AFTER:

                                                                 

My Letter to BC Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar 'et al'

 

As someone who is deeply concerned about the dangerous direction of the BC Govt & MSM vis-a-vis the perilous state of BC's globally-rare rainforest ecosystems, I wrote the following letter in support of a (Govt-promised) Biodiversity & Ecosystem Health law - via the locally-based non-profit Neighbours United.  ( Be sure to add your name to their related petition at this link:  Add your name - Defend our home - Neighbours United )  Here's my letter: 

Dear Ministers Neill, Parmar and Premier Eby,

As a born & bred BCer I've been advocating for biodiversity & ecosystem protection for literally years, having learned firsthand the heart-sinking outcomes of govt. policies that blatantly ignore Science & give logging ops free rein to wipe out whole wildlife habitats with frighteningly efficient clearcutting, spraying with deadly chemicals & other last-century industrial norms that should be banned by now.

In Maple Ridge, the latest result of your govt's inaction sticks out like an open wound:  a giant clearcut adjacent to Dewdney Trunk Rd that's suddenly eliminated an entire stretch of forest - along with all its Climate-protecting/ wildlife-sustaining assets - just in time for summer (/'fire season').  Making the drive is now a torturous reminder of your govt's dereliction of duty that allowed this to happen ON YOUR WATCH..

So my worries for BC's future have only intensified, seeing the (predicted & well-warned) disastrous effects of govt's reckless doubling-down on egregious status-quo 'Talk-and-log' hypocrisy serving corporate profits over BCers' best interests AS ELECTED PUBLIC SERVANTS!

As such, you must be aware of the dangerous ongoing drought emergency across BC - directly caused & exacerbated by harmful ecocidal policies furthered by your govt.  And I shouldn't have to remind you of pre-election promises to apply the Old-growth Strategic Review report's recommendations for forestry reforms - marked 'URGENT' with good reason, i.e. per scientists' findings commissioned by your govt!  ON TOP OF good-faith election declarations to legislate Species At Risk protection within B.E.H.F. (Biodiversity & Ecosystem Health Framework)??

Reneging on these measures in favour of inaction is a huge betrayal by your govt. -  UNACCEPTABLE IN FACT!   It's as if we've been abandoned - denied decision-making rights+++ - by glib officials who openly pander to U.S./ multi-nat'l/ billionaire corporate lobbyists:  NOT what BC needs or wants!  No wonder your corrupt Conservative 'opponents' have gained undue support from gullible BCers who are understandably disappointed by your obvs. lack of caring or leadership.

The only way to make this right is to honour your intentions & prioritize B.C.'s globally-rare natural ecosystems, now & in future, by getting back to work on 'Just Transition':  finalizing legislation of BC's Species at Risk act, applying the OldGrowth Strategic Review recommendations & ratifying our urgently-needed B.E.H.F. laws = PROVEN SOLUTIONS for a thriving future.  Making deals with U.S. billionaires tied to Trump's resource-grabbing sweeps are NOT THE WAY TO MAKE CANADA STRONG!

I must also strongly suggest you put new rules in place that restrict the corrupting influence of corporate lobbyists on govt law-making, by limiting their unaccountable access to MPs' official duties.

Thank you very much,

[SaRah ChesTeRman]

On EncounTeRing BEARS.. by an expeRienced BCer

[Re-published from July 21, 2021]

I was compelled to write this in response to disturbing reports of (what should be rare) attacks by bears on humans here in the Lower Mainland of BC - the worst part of which, for me, has been subsequent interviews with 'attackees' revealing they'd followed common advice to "make lots of noise"  on seeing a bear(!?)

I can't help feeling concerned that such irresponsible misinformation is so widely dispensed.  As a hiker/ naturalist BCer for whom encountering bears - in the wilderness & close to home - is an almost daily occurrence, I feel the need to set the record straight.. & hopefully prevent any more unnecessary bear attacks!

First, let's debunk the most obvious falsehood making the rounds: the "make-lots-of-noise-to-scare-off-a-bear-as-soon-as-you-spot-one" approach.  In my experience, this tactic is much likelier to provoke a bear attack than anything!  This is borne out in at least one recently-reported attack on a human, who when questioned afterward said they "did the right thing & made lots of noise by banging on pots & pans" when they saw the bear.  Luckily they weren't harmed.  But if they hadn't followed such bad advice in the first place, chances are their encounter would have been uneventful.

Making yourself visible to a bear - without making unnecessary noise - is, I've found, the best & easiest way to ensure any encounters with bears are incident-free.  Usually bears will either keep doing what they're doing, or turn & amble off in the opposite direction as soon as they see you.

It helps to know that bears are considered 'apex predators' (although black bears - found only in North America - are the shyest & least predatory of all the bears.)  Which brings us to the next misconception rattled off regularly in the rags:  that mama bears are especially vicious with her young in tow.  Of course mama bears are protective of their cubs.  Unlike prey mammals (eg. deer/ mice) bears live a relatively threat-free existence; hence their laid-back demeanor.  That doesn't mean a mama won't lash out if you try to approach and/or lure one of her roly-poly cuddle-cubs (which is not only illegal, it's dumb AF!)  But it does mean that as long as you keep your distance, you'll likely be ignored.

*  *  *  *

Bears' biggest threat is habitat loss by human industries like logging.  They need intact old-growth forests to thrive & hibernate in dens over winter.  So join groups like Wilderness Committee & Sierra Club & Wildlife Foundation to help campaign our govts to #SaveOldGrowth & BC nature.

*  *  *  *

One thing to remember is that bears are omnivores, so they'll get used to eating whatever's most abundant & readily available - including human food, unfortch.  It's sad when people think it's OK to offer food to wild bears - despite being repeatedly & strongly WARNED NOT TO FEED WILDLIFE - either purposely or inadvertently by leaving garbage accessible/ BBQs uncleaned etc.  Feeding bears - or any wildlife - will quickly turn them into nuisances, & more likely to end up killed by authorities. 

So it's CRITICAL to keep your home & yard free from food, scraps or waste - & to NEVER offer food to a wild bear:  once they're used to associating humans with free-&-easy reliable food sources, they lose their fear of people & will return to the same spot each year to forage, often becoming aggressive when defending food..

You can find out more fascinating facts about these solitary creatures here:

treehugger.com/surprising-facts-about-black-bears

If you come upon a bear suddenly (eg. Hiking on a trail) DON'T make lots of noise - that may provoke her!  Instead, by all means vocalise to warn of your presence, so that with their excellent vision they'll probably see you first & will likely vacate the area.

If you DO startle a bear at close range (which is unlikely, as their hearing is better than ours - but it's happened b4 & prob will again!) first and foremost, STAY CALM & give it time to lumber away.  Try to keep talking calmly while ensuring the bear has an escape-route away from you.  Then back away from the bear while facing it the whole time.. without making a fuss.

Bears are experts at sensing fear & threats:  as long as you don't run at it or start screaming or some other startling behavior, bears will in most cases carry on their business & not be interested in you (unless you have unwrapped food on you - NOT recommended!)

After numerous incident-free encounters with bears, I can vouch for these tips to ensure your (& bears') safety in Bear Country:

(a) Remember you're in their territory (even at home), so be aware & respectful always - of ALL wildlife.  When on hikes/ walks in the woods, never stray from designated paths & walkways.  At home, decommission bird feeders (bring indoors until late fall), keep all food indoors & well-wrapped, & use bear-proof dumpsters/ garbage cans outdoors.  If you have fruit trees they can access, leave them be if you don't mind their presence on your property (& keep pets indoors) - you can't blame bears for finding their very fave desserts to eat!  Believe it or not, this is your most stress-free option - unless of course you live in a built-up, high-traffic urban area:  in that case, you may have no choice but to call your local Conservation service..

(b) REMAIN CALM at all times

(c) Talk in a normal voice to alert bears of your presence, if there's a lack of crunchy vegetation to do the job (they're NOT brain-dead!)  Just like you, bears can find loud obtrusive noises irritating too, esp. around their young.  From their p.o.v. the sole solution is to silence the noise - ie. by attacking it!

(d) Just because a bear's 1st instinct is to run away on seeing you, doesn't mean it's scared of you:  if you try & intimidate a bear by confronting it/ imitating it/ roaring loudly/ standing up to it (as I've seen some dumb sites advise) the bear may be provoked or take your behavior as a challenge/ threat, & may attack you! 

(e) The main thing to remember about bears is:  yes they're bigger & stronger than you, but their chief concerns are food (& more food..) & their own families.  As long as you don't try to deter their access/ attention to either, there's no need to freak when encountering bear(s) - say hi & move on.. & they'll likely do the same (minus the 'hi' lol - but they may acknowledge you with a lazy 'wassap' lift of their heads before diving back to their mulberry-tree feast..)🌳

(f)  DON'T push your luck by trying to get a snapshot, esp. if it's close enough to lunge at you/ your camera:  you're considered an unwanted intruder in its space!  Best to keep your distance for photographing these gorgeous creatures - you can always ZOOM IN.

Ksi Lisims LNG: the ugly truth

Despite overwhelming pushback of more than 500 public written submissions, the BC EAO (BC Environment Assessment Office) has fast-tracked approval for the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG project, promoted by the BC govt as a 'joint venture with the Nisga'a Nation' (but is in fact 100% owned by Texas-based Western LNG).  The Ksi Lisims project would be a floating LNG plant (built in Korea!) situated at the north end of Pearse Island in the Nass River estuary on Nisga’a land.

The plant requires the construction of a massive pipeline - the previously approved (but not-yet built) Prince Rupert Gas Transmission line (PRGT), which was originally intended to supply the Pacific NorthWest LNG project abandoned by Petronas - to transport fracked methane gas from northeastern BC to the terminal for liquefaction before shipment to Asian markets.

Methane, the primary component of fossil gas, emits fugitive emissions that rank as the second-largest contributor to rising global temperatures, following C02.  These emissions occur throughout the entire lifecycle of LNG, from fracking & flaring to the liquefaction process & transportation.

[To give an idea of the EAO's application requirements for large projects, check out this link & gasp in disbelief at the 100+ pages of details & oversights this project had to satisfy for approval:
FRX_DRAFT_Application_Information_Requirements_12Jan2026_PCP.pdf (skepticism allowed - nay, expected!)]

Feedback on the project's EAO includes:  Concerns over greenhouse gas emissions from the project, impacts on the marine environment & Nass River salmon, impacts of increased tanker traffic on whales & other environmental impacts.

As the PRGT pipeline crosses Gitksan Naton territory, the Gitksan Watershed Authorities' submission stands out: “The project application does not seem to have adequately addressed or even characterized the impacts to Gitksan interests & rights. Lacking proper aquatic baseline information for assessment and evaluation is a major concern. [..]  We call on the BC Environmental Assessment Office and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to take the time to engage with the Gitksan and address Gitksan Watershed Authorities concerns with this proposed project before approving it.”

The Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition wrote, “Approximately 150 annual tanker visits for LNG transport through the proposed facility pose potential risks to whale species in frequented waters."

In its submission, the City of Terrace’s Economic Development office says the LNG Canada development in Kitimat has resulted in increased economic activity for Terrace, but that it has generally been negative for the city, as the increased activity has strained city services without providing any additional revenue.

“The City of Terrace sees its role as a hub as detriment to Terrace and especially the quality of life for its residents,” the office writes in its submission. “Being the hub has allowed for massive inflation in professional and retail services, a strain on municipal infrastructure like roads, refuse disposal, lodgings and housing.

“Some might see this influx as a key economic driver but it has actually been the opposite.."

[EAO info from an article by Nelson Bennett at www.biv.com: 
B.C. environmental review gets earful against Nisga'a's Ksi Lisims LNG - Business in Vancouver]

Gitanyow Nation's input is even more pointedly critical of Ksi Lisims.  Quoted from their website ():  "This callous decision to proceed with the environmental review without adequate consideration of the project's potential impacts on salmon, climate, and Indige3nous sovereignty is a glaring betrayal of trust," said Simogyet Malii/Glen Williams. "British Columbia's refusal to engage meangingfully with our concerns and immediately participate in Gitanyow's Wilp Sustainability Assessment Process is an insult."  (For more info go to  www.gitanyowchiefs.ca)

Dogwood BC's website section on Ksi Lisims is equally scathing, as these articles show: B.C. can have affordable, renewable power – or LNG (with the sub-heading: "Clean energy offers peace, prosperity and political sanity.  Oil companies plan to steal it.") & Epstein, Trump … and Mark Carney’s Ksi Lisims LNG - Dogwood with the sub-heading "Backlash builds as Liberals try to fast-track American-owned gas project"  Their website includes letter-writing opportunities for public input to the BC Govt, eg. PM Carney: no taxpayer subsidies for American billionaires! - Dogwood - from which I include my own (edited) version here - & encourage you to visit & provide your own...

Dear recipient's full name will go here,

Please don’T give my tax $ to American billionaires!

I am appalled that the Wall Street sickos who bankrolled Jeffrey Epstein & Donald Trump are hoping for a special gift :  billions of dollars from Canada’s Liberal govt!!

The Ksi Lisims LNG project would be 100% American-owned & built in Korea, then floated over & hooked up to an American-built pipeline on the B.C. coast.  Since the project’s Texas owner is struggling to find buyers for the gas, or banks willing to loan money for construction, that’s where we come in.

By adding Ksi Lisims to his “fast-track” list, PM Carney hopes to “de-risk” this project with OUR tax dollars, & convince Wall St to invest!  It’s a plan that would steal money from job-creating projects in Canada, jack up our utility bills & increase U.S. control of our energy resources.

I can’t think of a worse use of public money than giving Wall Street billionaires huge subsidies for an American-owned gas terminal in BC!

Please confirm you will be opposing any taxpayer handouts to the Ksi Lisims LNG proposal.  Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Saz Marguerite Chesterman
Vancouver, BC

This page's images are screenshots of others' websites, credited above - any copyrights belong to them.