Brian Gunn on the Environment and BC Election

Brian Gunn's thoughts on the Environment, Wilderness Tourism Operators and the upcoming BC election on May 12.
Dear Members

I thought I would put my thoughts out there and ask for feedback and dialogue with members of our WTA list serve.
I know most of you are really concerned about getting customers as without them it will be impossible to survive and most indications are that it could be some time before the economy turns around. What is important is how do we come out of this downturn stronger and protect and enhance the very basis of our product which is nature based tourism?
I believe we need to focus and get government to focus on projects that are good for the environment and will make us competitive when the economy turns around. I believe that the current mudslinging debate about the carbon tax is not healthy. Both the carbon tax and cap in trade are necessary for our survival as a species and we need to stop this insanity of fighting between the pro and anti carbon tax groups and focus on what we can really do to ensure that our product, nature based tourism, survives
Key to its survival in BC, is the survival of wild salmon. If the wild salmon go down so does our wildlife that depend on them. Essential to saving the salmon, first and foremost, is to remove the barriers imposed by open net caged farms located on salmon migration corridors. Second is to ensure that all uses of the habitat that are detrimental to the salmon and wildlife are stopped or provision is made for restoration or enhancement of degraded environment to compensate for these losses. Third is to ensure that commercial, recreational and aboriginal fishing are regulated to ensure the survival of the runs. I believe that the Run of the River Power project thrust need to be stayed and reexamined as to which projects are acceptable to the environment and which are not.
I feel we are very privileged to live in this time and have the standard of living we have and the beautiful environment of BC. In my time on this planet I have seen significant deterioration of the environment and I believe that we must all do what we can to stop and to reverse this deterioration. I do have a vision that says we must do what we can to see that this environment is here for our children. I need to do my share to help save this planet. Fish, wildlife and carbon are very tied up in this. We, in nature based tourism, are close to the front line and we can see this better than many other elements of society. We also are privileged to be able to communicate this vision to our clients, many who also understand this and have the resources to help us take action

Finally:

I think it is time to have a more balanced legislature that reflects the thinking of all population groups. So I ask that you give consideration to supporting the Sustainable Transferable Vote (STV) Ballot

Pay attention to candidates and their commitment to nature. Are they willing to formulate the laws and regulations necessary to have us all compete on a level playing field in this free market system so that we can do this in a sustainable way, or are they saying free enterprise can do this best and believe that government should not interfere, which I believe is a cop out.
I would like to hear your thoughts.
Brian Gunn President of WTA


PS

I support the carbon tax because it is based on consumption of petroleum products and the more you use the more you pay. It is the direct approach, those who use the most, will pay the most. It may not be the fairest but I believe it is the most effective way to reduce consumption of carbon. This tax needs to be coupled with assistance to those dependent on it for their livelihood. Trying to suggest there are less painful ways to reduce carbon by saying that Corporations should pay is not understanding or being honest about how society works. The big corporations will only put the taxes back on the consumers as they are not in business to lose money.
The biggest challenge to all of us and especially our politicians is to produce the legislation that creates competition on a level playing field so that the consumers and corporations will move to the green economy because that is where the profit lies. Putting taxes on big carbon producers could have the same effect. In the end the consumer pays. There is no such thing as a free ride to the general population. The carbon tax is the direct way to get consumers to cut back and to fund, development and use of sustainable energy when Carbon has to pay its real cost to the Environment. Europe has been doing this for some time and is successful in making significant reductions to consumption of carbon and using the tax to develop the technology associated with green energy. I do not see the difference in whether the producer is taxed or the consumer. In the end the consumer pays. What really is needed is to get the public and the politicians in gear over development and implementation of responsible laws to create level playing fields and give the free market system a chance to compete on an environmentally responsible economic basis.