Inside New Minister New Ministries Announced
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BC Parks Newsletter August 2001 Volume 12, Number 4 Ms. Murray was the regional Columbians expect while at the same New Minister winner of the Canadian Airlines time revitalizing British Columbia’s Export Award Program in 1996 and position in the Canadian and global earned the Quality Council of British economy. Columbia’s Bronze Level Excellence Award in 2000 on behalf of her Water, Land and Air Protection company’s quality program. Comprised primarily of staff mem- She was also a member of the bers from the former Ministry of Greater Vancouver Regional District Environment, Lands and Parks, the solid waste management plan ministry will also incorporate the monitoring committee and the Green Economy Secretariat and staff New Westminster Chamber of from BC Fisheries who were respon- Commerce, and a director of the sible for freshwater fisheries. The Community Forestry for Africa ministry will provide corporate lead- Network and the Employee Share ership on the future direction for Ownership & Investment environmental protection in British Association. In 1995 she was a Columbia. The new ministry will silviculture representative to a land ensure that the quality of British and resources steering committee Columbia’s water, land and air is Honourable Joyce Murray, of Forest Renewal BC. maintained or improved and that Minister of Water, Land and Joyce Murray and Dirk Brinkman fish, wildlife and protected areas Air Protection live in New Westminster and have are properly managed. three children. I To perform this role, the ministry Joyce Murray was appointed Minister will place emphasis on the following of Water, Land and Air Protection on practices: June 5, 2001. I Applying innovative regulatory and Ms. Murray was first elected in New Ministries non-regulatory approaches to pro- 2001 to represent the riding of New tect British Columbia’s environment Westminster. Announced L (continued on page 2) Before her election to the Legislative Assembly, Ms. Murray was board On June 5, British Colombia’s new chair and director of planning and government confirmed its commit- quality for Brinkman & Associates ment to sustainable development of Inside Reforestation Limited, a silviculture the province’s natural resources while Restrictions about Park Protection ……………2 company based in New Westminster protecting environmental values by Eagle Rescue …………………………………3 that seasonally employs 1,000 young creating two new ministries. Churn Creek Bank Stabilization ………………4 people in British Columbia’s forests, These two new ministries, created Herb Carter Wins Gold Award ………………4 across Canada and internationally. She from elements of nine different BC Parks Helps in Search ……………………5 Old Trail – New Look …………………………5 worked as a treeplanter, crew boss and agencies, are the Ministry of Water, Spring Training Focus on Bears ………………6 camp cook in remote areas of British Land and Air Protection headed by Alcan Renews Corporate Sponsorship ………7 Columbia before becoming a founding the Honourable Joyce Murray and Turtles in Cranbrook …………………………8 partner with Brinkman in 1976. the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Heather MacRae: E-Team Participant, She earned her master of business Management being led by the Supervisor, Employer ………………………8 administration from Simon Fraser Honourable Stan Hagen. An Intern, an E-team and a Plan ……………9 University and received the faculty Both ministries have been tasked Special Places…………………………………10 of business dean’s convocation with delivering the strong environ- Canadian Lakes Loon Survey ………………10 medal as the top MBA graduate. mental protection that British Camp Green, CANADA! ……………………12 (“New Ministries…” continued from page 1) Previously, a number of ministries I Ensuring compliance with and agencies were responsible for VISIONS is produced six times per environmental standards and resource management, policy and year by BC Parks, Ministry of Water, regulations planning, leading to overlap and Land and Air Protection to maintain delays in decision-making. By bringing I Forming partnerships with other commitment to quality service and together all land planning, registry and governments, the private sector stewardship and to encourage innova- information operations into a single and communities to foster stew- tion by everyone directly involved or ministry, a new level of service has ardship of the environment in interested in BC Parks. now been created that was not possible British Columbia The VISIONS Newsletter is in the past. posted on BC Parks’ web site: I Providing reliable, science-based Staff from nine different agencies www.elp.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ information on the state of the and former ministries will be brought publications/vision_news.htm environment, and into the new ministry, including: Land As VISIONS is now available on the I Encouraging the development Use Co-ordination Office; Environment, internet, please let us know if you and application of innovative Lands and Parks; Forests; Energy and would like to be removed from our technologies and processes that Mines; Small Business, Tourism and mailing list. will prevent or reduce releases that Culture; Agriculture Food and To contact us regarding changes impair water, land and air quality. Fisheries; Aboriginal Affairs; and, the to the VISIONS mailing list or to Lands and Titles Branch of the Ministry receive a free subscription: Sustainable Resource of Attorney General. I call (250) 952-6709 Management BC Parks I send an email note to Many public and private stakeholders [email protected] agree that British Columbia’s natural BC Parks, formally under the Ministry I write to: VISIONS, BC Parks, resources – including Crown land of Environment, Lands and Parks, PO Box 9398, Stn Prov Govt, and water – should be managed in a now falls under the Ministry of Water, Victoria, British Columbia balanced and sustainable manner. The Land and Air Protection. The designa- V8W 9M9 Canada new Ministry of Sustainable Resource tion, management and conservation of ecological reserves, provincial parks Articles from readers are welcome. Management represents an important step by government to balance the and recreation areas will continue as Deadline for material in the next issue the division’s primary mission. I is September 1, 2001. need for strong economic growth with sound environmental principles. Editor Nancy Chave Reprinted courtesy of the Cowichan News Leader, June 10, 2001 Contributors Kate Alexander Greg Betz Restrictions about Park Protection Dave Chater Jim Cuthbert by Dave Chater Mary E. Glasgow Rick Kool As a result of a letter from Berry and Jenny Sintnicolaas in the May 23 Leader Don Lassey and an article in the May 13, Pictoral, readers may assume BC Parks is targetting Andrew MacLeod “off roaders” with recent access restrictions within Chemainus River Provincial Steve Mazur Park. This is not the case. Kristina Robbins BC Parks’ overriding principle in the management of the provincial park Nicole Smith system is the protection of the natural and cultural values within individual Ken Zimmer parks and the system in general. Recreational activities, while an important component of the provincial park system, may only be considered if they do Minister not negatively impact the park’s natural and cultural values. Joyce Murray In the case of Chemainus River Park human use (caused by a cross section Deputy Minster of uses) has severely impacted the park’s natural and cultural values. As an Derek Thompson interim measure to address this situation, BC Parks has installed gates and barriers to limit the movement of motorized vehicles within the park. The park Assistant Deputy Minister Denis O’Gorman is not closed to public access, but visitors will notice motorized access will now be limited to defined areas within the park. (continued on page 3) L 2 VISIONS August 2001 (“Restrictions…” continued from page 2) Decisions that affect the long term management and use of a provincial park such as the type and extent of recreational activities appropriate for a particu- lar park are formulated through a park management planning process (which includes public consultation) and impact assessments. These planning and impact assessment processes assist in providing for appropriate recreational activities in the context of ensuring the impacts associated with recreational use on the natural environments within a park are minimized. Currently, a management plan for Chemainus River Provincial Park does not exist. Until a management plan is completed, BC Parks will continue to implement measures that reflect a precautionary approach within the park, even if it means restricting human use within the park. BC Parks would also welcome the participation of interested individuals and groups to assist in the retention and protection of the park’s values. Possible projects for volunteers and groups could include park patrols, refuse removal, plant and animal inventories and replanting of natural vegetation. Anyone interested should contact the South Vancouver Island District office at (250) 391-2300. I David Chater is the District Manager of BC Parks South Vancouver Island District. Eagle Rescue by Don Lassey, South Vancouver Island District On June 21, while at Tod Inlet in A mature bald eagle, while in the process of diving to retrieve Gowlland Tod Provincial Park munching on a purloined chicken it, crashed into a fork of a small working on a project, another Park from a local farmer’s barnyard, maple tree and got himself wedged Ranger and I were made aware of an was harassed by a flock of crows. in pretty solidly. unusual situation. The eagle dropped the chicken and The racket caused by the crows attracted the attention of some park visitors who came and got us to assess the situation. He was certainly jammed in and upside down to boot. I called in a Conservation Officer for consultation and also called upon the services of Butchart Gardens’ arborist staff. The decision was made that the chief arborist would climb the tree and wrap a piece of canvas around the bird to secure him and we would lower the bird to the ground by rope after the arborist cut the limb off of the tree.