15 June 2021

POW ATHLETES ASK FOR MORE FROM BC NDP

34 Canadian POW athletes of national and international stature urged BC Premier Horgan to act now and implement all of the Old Growth Strategic Review recommendations before it is too late. Very few old-growth forests are still standing across the province, and most of them are slated to be logged even though these forests have a greater net economic, ecological and cultural value for communities if they are left standing.

“British Columbia needs to be a catalyst driving climate change action. Threatening the existence of our old-growth forests is a policy initiative that should have been retired ages ago – these ideas are not part of the solution, they are part of the problem,” stated Marie-France Roy, Board member of Protect Our Winters Canada and professional athlete. “We will be keeping the pressure on our elected officials – these giants must be left standing.”

If you're not clear about what's happening with Old Growth in BC (we can't blame you... it's complicated) and why POW Canada is working with allies to demand government action, read the POW athlete open letter below and then TAKE ACTION!

June 2, 2021

Dear Premier Horgan,

Murray Rankin (Indigenous Relations Minister),

George Heyman (Environment and Climate Change Minister),

Melanie Mark (Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport),

Nathan Cullen (Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations), and

Katrine Conroy (Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development),

As Canadian athletes of national and international stature, we are imploring you to act now and take the next steps to protect BC’s forests and biodiversity before it is too late.

Very few old-growth forests are still standing across the province. Most of them are slated to be logged even though these forests have a greater net economic, ecological and cultural value for communities if they are left standing[1].

By protecting endangered old-growth forests, restoring intact forests and reforming forest management, your government can support the health and safety of communities by mitigating these climate related disasters before the climate crisis worsens.

We are asking that you:

Extend and mandate a provincial moratorium to cover all at risk old growth logging activities in British Columbia to allow time for a new strategy to be developed and implemented;
Enact comprehensive legislation to preserve and enhance BC’s biodiversity including the protection, management and restoration of forests, grasslands, agricultural lands and wetlands leading to greater capacity to sequester and store vast amounts of carbon emissions.

We believe that the B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act should be foundational to all commitments stated above.

Public and visitor interest in seeing and experiencing big-tree forests is increasing and is being promoted. Information provided by the Adventure Tourism Coalition states that adventure tourism directly or indirectly supports 32,000 families and generated $3.2 billion in visitor spending in 2018. Without immediate action, the tourism and recreation industries will see significant economic downfall[2].

These threats will only increase in magnitude as these forests, wetlands and grasslands are non-renewable within any reasonable time frame[3].

Sincerely,

Todd Easterbrook, Pemberton, BC

Greg Hill, Revelstoke, BC

Kim Vinet, Revelstoke, BC

Jeff Schmuck, Vancouver, BC

Mario Rigby, Toronto, ON

Mike Hopkins, Rossland, BC

Marie-France Roy, Ucluelet, BC

Kim Lamarre, Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC

David Carrier-Porcheron, Squamish, BC

Ray Zahab, Chelsea, QC

Gabriel Filippi, QC

Kye Petersen, Pemberton, BC

Tobin Seagel, Whistler, BC

Reuben Krabbe, Squamish, BC

Mike Douglas, Whistler, BC

Natalie Segal, Revelstoke, BC

Chris Rubens, Revelstoke, BC

Bruno Long, Revelstoke, BC

Spencer O’Brien, Vancouver, BC

Indra Hayre, unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh & sel̓íl̓witulh land, “Vancouver, B.C.”

Philippe Marquis, Québec, QC

Nick McNutt, Squamish, BC

Alannah Yip, Vancouver, BC

Stan Rey, Whistler, BC

Justin Lamoureux, Squamish, BC

Leah Evans, Revelstoke, BC

Robin Van Gyn, Ucluelet, BC

Elladj Baldé, Montréal, QC

William Gadd, AB

Izzy Lynch, Revelstoke, BC

Anna Segal, Pemberton, BC

Julia Murray, Whistler, BC

Davey Barr, Whistler, BC

Vaea Verbeeck, Vernon, BC

[1]

“A New Future For Old Growth Forests: A Strategic Review of How British Columbia Manages for Old Forests Within its Ancient Ecosystems”, Old Growth Review Panel, 2020.

Price, Karen, Rachel F. Holt, Dave Daust,“BC’s Old Growth Forests: A Last Stand for Biodiversity”, April 2020.

[2]