Vancouver, BC – In advance of this weekend's environmental issues leadership debate, NDP hopeful Adrian Dix has released his environmental platform. The Wilderness Committee has reviewed the platform and is pleased with a number of the commitments it outlines.

“There are a number of specific policies outlined which will provide better protection for BC's environment, including a call for a moratorium on private power projects,” said Gwen Barlee, National Policy Director.

“We are also pleased to see a commitment not only to reinvest in BC Parks, but to expand the province’s protected areas system,” said Barlee.

“Dix’s platform addressed the need for public scrutiny of ‘fracking’ in the shale gas industry,” said Ben West, Healthy Communities Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee. "This is a progressive position to take. We hope he follows Quebecs lead on this, and moves toward a moratorium on fracking" said West. "Fracking" or hydraulic fracturing is a water-intensive, chemical intensive and polluting form of natural gas extraction. Quebec and several other North American jurisdictions have recently stopping issueing permits on fracking while health and safety studies take place.

Dix’s platform also calls for provincial intervention against the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline which aims to bring tar sands oil across the mountains through BC to a proposed tanker port at Kitimat. “We’re pleased to see this strong stand in opposition to this pipeline and tanker proposal which has been rejected by First Nations and other stakeholders,” said West.

Dix’s platform also includes a ‘green mega-project’ calling for province-wide building retrofitting for energy conservation, a pledge to use carbon tax revenues to fund public transit, a commitment to develop green jobs, a ban on cosmetic pesticides and the implementation of long sought-after species-at-risk legislation. British Columbia is one of the last jurisdictions in North America not to have stand alone legislation addressing endangered species protection.

"All in all, this environmental platform is very positive," said Barlee.

Contact:

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

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