a.1 Freedom of information | The public shall have fullfreedom of information regarding ail aspects of resource management. The natural resources of British Columbia are owned by the residents of the province. There is no justification for hiding of management information that wouid Iturninate how these resources are being stewarded. a | PITY F eae I q é N, SN Public Participation An independent citizen controlied advisory/ audit group shall be established in each Watershed Authority region. Watershed Authority, Ministry of Natural Resources, and resource indusiry employees shall sit on the advisory group as technical advisors only. . | Resource management agencies have historically had a poor public participation record. Legislation is required to allow open and fair representation of legitimate community concems. Institutionalized advisory groups should be free of manipulation by those who have only a financial stake in resource extraction industries. The responsibility of advisory groups will be fo encourage viable economic activity within constraints of watershed areas to sustainably support such enterprise. Weld 2.3 lic Education’ ne : we | The Minisiry of Natural Resources shall operate a full range of public education programs, including speakers bureau, development of teaching modules for elementary end secondary schools, publication of juried journals that highlight state of the art resource stewardship theary and practice, and annual Industry appreciation festivals that credit the work.of maritorious companies and individuals active in resource stewardship. . | ‘ Much of the current outcry against practices of resource industries is attributed to a lack of public knowledge of how and why certain. extraction processes are carried out, Governments must make a serious effort to educate the public in a sustained and comprehensive manner. Research os The Minisiry of Natural Resources shall fund a vigourous research program that addresses need for both generic resources management information (catety, exiraction/conversion plant efficiency, value added opportuniiles, etc.) and site specific data thar will enable ecciogically sound stewardship practice to be evolved in Watershed Authority jurisdictions. Research funding shall be allocated in a manner which atlows al! Watershed Authorities to equally benefit from research related employment. Continuous evolution of ecologically sound resource stewardship practice will only occur adequately funded, long-term research is carried out in every region of the Province.