Press Release
November 27, 2003
Government dismantles Graham-Laurier Provincial Park for oil and gas development
VANCOUVER - Legislative changes to the Parks and Protected Areas Act (Bill 84) removes an 11km corridor of land from Graham Laurier Provincial Park for oil and gas development. The corridor reduces the park by 1,036 hectares and allows for the construction of a road or pipeline through the park. "These legislative changes undermine the ecological values that led to the establishment of the park," noted Eva Riccius, Ecosystem Specialist for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – BC (CPAWS). "We are very concerned with the direction this government is taking on parks and protected areas."
Graham-Laurier Provincial Park is part of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, which took seven years, three public Land and Resource Management Processes (LRMP), and two legislative acts to create. "Dismantling the park is disrespectful to the rights of the Treaty 8 First Nations whose territory the park lies, and of the Kaska Dena Nation who supported the initial legislation," said Riccius. "It also undermines the years of forthright work done by northerners and others to find a reasonable compromise to permit development while protecting wilderness in northern BC."
CPAWS notes that the changes were drafted without any consultation with First Nations, LRMP participants, or provincial organizations concerned with parks. This is the wrong way to do business with both the concerned First Nations and the citizens of BC.
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For further information:
Eva Riccius
Ecosystem Specialist
CPAWS-BC
Tel: 604 685 7445
CPAWS - British Columbia Chapter