I keep wondering what our good government's final verdict will be for what I call their caribou caper. After reading Vaughn Palmer's Aug. 2 Vancouver Sun opinion piece, I thought I should say my two-bits, once again.
Will Premier John Horgan, Environment Minister George Heyman, and the unofficial leader on the further left, Andrew Weaver, really be so crass to say they have consulted with the good people of Northeast B.C. and are moving forward with their Section 11 Agreement with West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations, as it was originally written? Is that how they believe consultation is conducted in the new world of "deep" consultation, as prescribed in their new environmental assessment process?
And then I think, hell yes, why would they do anything else but sign it, and then tell us to butt out? Why should our government leader have any respect for the industrious and conservative-minded people who live here in B.C.'s northeast?
Think about it. We embody most everything they abhor.
We are more conservative than liberal, carbon production is the name of our game, we like our cows, our fishing, hunting and trapping, we build big hydroelectric dams, convert our forests into lumber and pulp, dig holes in our mountains, and, in our spare time, drive carbon belching pickup trucks and poke fun at Victoria.
Why could we be so dumb and think that they would actually be supportive of what we want? Well, maybe one of them could. Maybe, just maybe, Finance Minister Carole James and her appreciation of where much of her cash comes from that keeps her budget balanced and their socialist friends happy is appreciated.
Jest aside, most everything we do up here goes against the values that our NDP-Green government are working so hard to implement.
Just think how much political support they would get from their voters if they could say, "look what we have done."
Wouldn't they love to say, and say with great fanfare, "we are slowly grinding down those loathsome, old world, carbon producing, environment destroying industries and under our new leadership, industries that sustain the people of B.C.'s northeast will soon become a shadow of their former selves. Their blight on our environment will soon be over."
And while they are saying this, quietly and out of the other side of their mouth, they are admitting that they can't completely shut us down, as they do need what we produce. Sure, they can and will point out that they have supported an LNG proposal, that they didn't shut down Site C, or haven't stopped fracking as so many of their supporters wish. Our coal mines are still operating, although these new caribou and park agreements may send our mines to the dust bin when their current sites are depleted. Yes, our forest industry is still limping along and cattle ranching has not been eliminated in favour of factories making fake meat, but are we really sure of their survival?
When I think about what we have, and what our government actively supports, I wonder where we fit. Are we truly that economic engine for the province, or are we a major impediment in their new world order? Are we a bunch of relics, living in the past and supporting dying industries?
And to think when I started writing, I thought I would stay positive. On second thought, is it positive thinking to hope that when Premier Horgan flips the switch on in Victoria, that light does come on and he truly understands the role we play in ensuring his survival?
-- Evan Saugstad is a former mayor of Chetwynd, and lives in Fort St. John.
