Liberal politician bears up for grizzlies
By Darcy Henton, Postmedia News.com
MLA Laurie Blakeman slammed the Conservative government for not doing enough to protect the giant of the Canadian forests despite the fact there are fewer than 700 grizzly bears remaining in the province.
EDMONTON — Alberta Liberal politician Laurie Blakeman says she is willing to stand in front of logging trucks and be arrested to save the grizzlies in Alberta's Castle Crown Special Management Area.
"I am willing to do it for the grizzlies," she told reporters at the provincial legislature. "I want to be able to see a grizzly bear in the wild in my lifetime, and more than that I would like to see my niece get that opportunity."
Blakeman slammed the provincial Conservative government Thursday for not doing anything to protect the giant of the Canadian forests despite the fact there are fewer than 700 grizzly bears remaining in Alberta.
She said the logging operation in the Castle area, some 100 kilometres south of Calgary, wipes out grizzly habitat and endangers hibernating bears and their cubs. She said the operation must be shut down.
Rather than arresting protesters at the site, she said, the provincial government should be using its expertise in locating bear dens to ensure loggers keep their distance from them.
She questioned why the area was designated a special area if it is open to forestry.
"You would think there would be no logging in a so-called 'special place,'" she said. "But there's no legislation to make that mean anything. It is a designation without any protective teeth."
She said she doesn't blame the logging company for wanting to log the area, but puts the responsibility firmly on the Tory government for issuing the permit for such a sensitive area.
She said the government dragged its heels on designating grizzlies as a threatened species and should be listing them as endangered.
Blakeman noted that 80 per cent of the region's residents have stated they oppose logging in the Castle area and wondered when the premier will "do the right thing."
"Once the grizzlies are gone, they are gone forever," she said.
"I am willing to do it for the grizzlies," she told reporters at the provincial legislature. "I want to be able to see a grizzly bear in the wild in my lifetime, and more than that I would like to see my niece get that opportunity."
Blakeman slammed the provincial Conservative government Thursday for not doing anything to protect the giant of the Canadian forests despite the fact there are fewer than 700 grizzly bears remaining in Alberta.
She said the logging operation in the Castle area, some 100 kilometres south of Calgary, wipes out grizzly habitat and endangers hibernating bears and their cubs. She said the operation must be shut down.
Rather than arresting protesters at the site, she said, the provincial government should be using its expertise in locating bear dens to ensure loggers keep their distance from them.
She questioned why the area was designated a special area if it is open to forestry.
"You would think there would be no logging in a so-called 'special place,'" she said. "But there's no legislation to make that mean anything. It is a designation without any protective teeth."
She said she doesn't blame the logging company for wanting to log the area, but puts the responsibility firmly on the Tory government for issuing the permit for such a sensitive area.
She said the government dragged its heels on designating grizzlies as a threatened species and should be listing them as endangered.
Blakeman noted that 80 per cent of the region's residents have stated they oppose logging in the Castle area and wondered when the premier will "do the right thing."
"Once the grizzlies are gone, they are gone forever," she said.
Once the Truffula trees are gone,
they are gone forever
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