cohochinook
Well-Known Member
Hon. Colin Hansen, Minister of Finance
Dear Mr. Hansen
The B.C. Federation of Drift Fishers has grave concerns regarding further budget cuts to the Ministry of Environment. At the present time it could be suggested, particularly in the Fisheries section that most programs are currently on life support and any further cut backs will effectively mean that initiatives designed to protect and enhance threatened stocks will cease to exist.
Reliable sources indicate that current priorities to protect threatened steelhead stocks may be discontinued. Many of these stocks are at "extreme conservation concern" meaning that further reduction in staff priorities could mean the expiration of some stocks.
Our provincial government is responsible to current and future generations to ensure we have healthy productive fish stocks as part of our heritage. Our organization and many others has attempted to work with MOE to preserve this priceless heritage for future generations. Once these stocks are gone they are gone forever!
While we appreciate the necessity of preserving existing services in areas such as education and health care, we cannot accept letting our fish stocks slide to oblivion. As our elected officials we demand that you accept your responsibilty to save our resources for future generations.
We trust you appreciate that the support of stakeholders is primary for effective management and that future cuts will severely jeopardize that support. We are confident our serious concerns are shared by other organizations and by the angling community at large.
Rod Clapton
President
Dear Mr. Hansen
The B.C. Federation of Drift Fishers has grave concerns regarding further budget cuts to the Ministry of Environment. At the present time it could be suggested, particularly in the Fisheries section that most programs are currently on life support and any further cut backs will effectively mean that initiatives designed to protect and enhance threatened stocks will cease to exist.
Reliable sources indicate that current priorities to protect threatened steelhead stocks may be discontinued. Many of these stocks are at "extreme conservation concern" meaning that further reduction in staff priorities could mean the expiration of some stocks.
Our provincial government is responsible to current and future generations to ensure we have healthy productive fish stocks as part of our heritage. Our organization and many others has attempted to work with MOE to preserve this priceless heritage for future generations. Once these stocks are gone they are gone forever!
While we appreciate the necessity of preserving existing services in areas such as education and health care, we cannot accept letting our fish stocks slide to oblivion. As our elected officials we demand that you accept your responsibilty to save our resources for future generations.
We trust you appreciate that the support of stakeholders is primary for effective management and that future cuts will severely jeopardize that support. We are confident our serious concerns are shared by other organizations and by the angling community at large.
Rod Clapton
President
