BC NDP

VICTORIA-British Columbians ought to be concerned about the fact that the B.C. Liberal environment minister is not staying on top of his file, says New Democrat environment critic Rob Fleming.

When questioned by media in the legislature on Monday about the threat caused by the Hebei Lion, a large freighter that ran aground near Mayne Island last week, the B.C. Liberal Environment Minister, Barry Penner, had no idea an incident had even occurred.

"It is clear that the latest round of B.C. Liberal cuts to the environment ministry has left the province with greatly reduced capacity for environmental monitoring and response," said Fleming. "This incident had the potential to be a catastrophe and the environment minister wasn't even aware it had happened."

Fleming is especially concerned about the Mr. Penner's lack of awareness about the situation given that other B.C. Liberal ministers are lobbying heavily for expanded crude oil supertanker traffic and for the lifting of the federal moratorium on coastal drilling.

"If the B.C. Liberal environment minister doesn't even pay attention to the environmental threats caused by routine shipping activities, how can the people of British Columbia trust him to protect our coastal wilderness from coastal drilling and crude oil supertanker traffic?" asked Fleming.

Carole James and the New Democrats are fighting for an environmental action plan that respects communities, offers families positive choices and commits to concrete action to protect species at risk.