VICTORIA - The 2017 BC budget showcases another year of overall stagnation in terms of funding for environmental protection and strong climate action in BC. This contrasts sharply with the government’s push to expand environmentally destructive industries like oil and gas and the dire situation in BC’s forests.

“The environment and climate change are two of the most pressing issues facing BC today, and this budget provides nothing more than band-aid solutions for both of them,” said Torrance Coste, Vancouver Island Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee.

Concurrent with the previously announced Parks Future Strategy, the government announced an increase of $18 million for BC Parks for the next year, mainly to hire more park rangers, the number of which has long been considered insufficient.

“More funding for BC Parks is an important step in the right direction,” Coste said. “However, BC’s parks have been shortchanged by this government for years and this pre-election increase is inadequate to repair the damage.”

Revenue from the carbon tax, which is currently frozen even though that is against the recommendation of the BC Climate Leadership Team, is finally set to increase every year as emissions continue to rise. However, as the tax remains revenue-neutral, none of this money will be spent on climate action or initiatives to lower BC’s impact on climate change.

“While the government talks a big game on climate change, our increasing emissions and support for industries like fracking tell a different story,” said Coste. “The government continues to treat this crisis like a minor inconvenience rather than the challenge of our time.”

Revenues from crown land gas drilling rights are projected to fall by around $450 million between 2016 and 2020, highlighting the economic instability of boom-bust fossil fuel industries.

Outside of the increase to BC Parks, the only other funding related to the environment is electric vehicle subsidies. Environmental sustainability, conservation officers, the Environmental Assessment Office and climate action all stagnate or decrease under the 2017 budget.

“Electric vehicles are great, but limiting environmental action to this is extremely narrow-minded and excludes the majority of British Columbians,” Coste said. “This government’s approach is like using duct tape to repair a sinking ship and BC deserves better than that.”

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For more information, please contact:

Torrance Coste | Vancouver Island Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
250-516-9900, torrance@wildernesscommittee.org