Vancouver, BC -- None of the candidates for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party responded to a questionnaire on environmental issues from the Wilderness Committee. George Abbott, Christy Clark, Kevin Falcon and Mike de Jong are competing for the leadership of the BC Liberals, with the vote to take place at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Saturday.

"This is one of many disturbing signs that the governing party in BC is neglecting or even backsliding on key policy files affecting the province's environment," said Gwen Barlee, Policy Director for the Wilderness Committee.

"Ignoring questions about environmental policy would be bad enough, but even more worrying are the statements by some of the candidates stepping back from things like the carbon tax and BC's legally binding climate action plan emission reduction targets," said Ben West, Healthy Communities Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee.

The Wilderness Committee noted there were some positive environmental commitments, such as Mike de Jong's pledge to eliminate cosmetic pesticides, a reiteration of policy first announced in the 2009 Throne Speech. And George Abbott, for instance, promised to increase BC Parks funding 10%, though that would still leave BC Parks' budget millions below 2001 levels.

"We are pleased that a pesticide ban was put on the table, but unfortunately no one came forward with substantive plans to protect BC's wildlands and rivers, or to curb destructive projects like new coal mines and freeway expansion. Overall, on environmental policy the Liberal Party's leadership candidates fall way short of the mark," said Joe Foy, National Campaign Director for the Wilderness Committee.

The Wilderness Committee's questionnaire to the candidates was based on their "Top 11 for 2011" environmental priorities. The opposition NDP will pick a new leader in April, and several of their candidates have responded to the Wilderness Committee's questionnaire. A report on their answers is forthcoming.

"Regardless of who wins tomorrow's vote for the leadership of the BC Liberals, we will be holding the new premier's feet to the fire to protect BC's environment," said Barlee.

Contact:

Gwen Barlee, Wilderness Committee, Policy Director, 604-202-0322 (c)

Ben West, Wilderness Committee, Healthy Communities Campaigner, 604-710-5340 (c)

Joe Foy, Wilderness Committee, National Campaign Director, 604-880-2580 (c)