Outdoors TheReyiew Wednesday, March 7,1990 — A115 ———_——— ee ama @QeaKa—_——e ‘NDP missed it: more parkland is a must ‘ VICTORIA — If you ask me, they blew it. A pound and a half worth of NDP position papers and not a word about the necd for expansion of our provincial parks system. The Socreds, on the other hand, knowing a popular issue when they see one, have just concluded that British Columbians want more parkland. In its position paper on sustaina- ble development, the NDP says that park expansion and wilder- ness protection should be among the topics for further policy devel- opment, but lets it go at that. What has happened to previous demands for the doubling of Brit- ish Columbia’s parkland inven- tory, which now stands at about six per cent of the province’s total areca? Why did that demand, expre- ssed on many occasions by NDP MLAs, not find its way into the policy papers to be debated at the parly’s convention in March? The Socreds base their new- found commitment to enlarging ~ the provincial parks system on a recent parks ministry survey which found that British Columbi- ans see the acquisition of more parkland as the second-highest priority, second only to the protec- tion of natural resources in exist- ing parks. Not that the NDP lacks commit- ment to environmental issues. In the contrary. The party’s platform on sustainable development is only the most obvious one. As Canada’s population grows, so does the need for more “green lungs.” Today’s parkland may seem more than enough for 25 million Canadians, but what of the 250 million who will surely live here some day? Equally important reasons are given in the famous Brundtland report, the’ World Commission on Environmental Development. The report says the conservation of “living natural resources” will be © all-important to our future food supply, economy, and medical research. “Species and their genetic materials promise to play an expanding role in development, and a powerful economic rationale is emerging to bolster the ethical, aesthetic and scientific cases for preserving them. The genetic vari- ‘The Socreds found that ouf and are using the information fo their advantage, thereby heading off the NDP at the pass’ built of pretty solid planks. What the NDP lacks at times is political smarts. More parkland is dear to the hearts of British Columbians. The Socreds found that out and are using the information to their advantage, thereby heading off the _ NDP at the pass. The rest of the NDP position paper on sustainable development is sound, although it also contains a good deal of rhetoric. Adding to our inventory of park- land is important for a number of reasons, of which recreation 1s ability and germplasm material of species make (their) contributions to agriculture, medicine and indus- try worth many billions of dollars per year,” the report says. “Scientists have intensively investigated only one in every 100 of earth’s plant species, and a far smaller proportion of animal spe- cies. If nations can assure the survival of species, the world can look forward to new and improved foods, new drugs and medicines, and new raw materials for indus- try,” the commission said. But to assure the survival and MARKETING YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HOME-BASED BUSINESS WORKSHOP Join the 130,000 other people in British Columbia who are running successful home-businesses. Learn how to market your business and products. TOPICS COVERED: ° Marketing products and services from the home ° Advertising, promotion and publicity ° Developing the right image e Short course in selling «Examples of effective HBB marketing ¢ Managing more efficiently and profitably SPONSORED BY Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Ministry of Regional and Economic Development The Honourable Stanley B. Hagen, Minister WORKSHOP: DATE: March 9 — 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. March 10 — 9am. - 1 p.m. LOCATION: St. Mary's Anglican Church, Cooper Hall s 1973 Cultra Ave., Saanichton CONTACT: 656-3616 for advance registration FEE; $48.00 _ week. the next election. Failing that, the and shove the government in the party will at least be able to push might direction. HOUSE OF RUSSEL HAIRSTYLISTS LTD. UNISEX @ 656-1522 vere @ Precision Cutting thriving of millions of animal and plant species, the commission stressed, there must be adequate natural areas, and that spells more wildemess parks. I suggest that the NDP lose no time developing a detailed strategy on future parkland acquisition, ready for implementation if it wins Our Reputation is on Your Head IN SIDNEY CENTRE #102-2367 Bevan Ave., Sidney, B.C. (Next to Safeway) McKIMM & LOTT BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES Not just a fisn story Salmon farming is definitely a growth industry in British Colum- bia. Figures released recently by Fisheries Minister John Savage show that sales rose to $72 million in 1989 from a paltry $2.72 mil- lion in 1986. Group upset Share Our Resources, a lobby group supporting logging of the Carmanah Valley on Vancouver Island, is upset over Forest Minis- ter Claude Richmond’s decision to turn over government studies of the Carmanah Valley to the West- em Canada Wildemess Commit- tee. “It’s outrageous that a lobby group with its own political agenda is being allowed to dictate to cabinet,” Dorothy Nickell, one of the group’s directors said last GEORGE F. McKIMM NICHOLAS W. 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