Mungall grieves loss of seven jobs with Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
By Nelson Daily Staff
Nelson/Creston MLA Michelle Mungall brought to light in the legislature Wednesday the upcoming closing of B.C. Hydro’s Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) Nelson and Cranbrook.
“So many species, including the endangered northern leopard frog found in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, have benefitted from this program over the years,” Mungall said, adding the closure with leave a gaping hole along with seven fulltime jobs that will leave the Kootenays.
“After cutting the program, the Liberal Government has no plan in place on how to continue work that is legally mandated through the licenses BC Hydro holds.”
Twice last Fall, Mungall asked the Minister responsible for BC Hydro to immediately rescind cut to the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.
She noted that FWCP biologists provide substantial benefit, not only to the restoration and conservation of species habitat, but also to research, education and communication in the region.
Cutting the FWCP was done without public consultations, nor has the BC Hydro developed a plan on how the work will continue past March 31, nor are they now conducting community engagement with the public as implied by Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett in a statement he made in the Legislature.
“Too many times have the Kootenays been blindsided by distant decisions on the electrical generation capacity of our region,”said Mungall in her statement,
“Too many times has our natural environment been the casualty. The fish, the wildlife, the people of the Kootenays deserved better. We deserve the expertise of the fish and wildlife compensation program.”
Visit www.michellemungall.ca to view the original letter and video transcript from her in person request of the Minister.
