October 6, 2011
BC NDP Need to 'Park' Their Misguided Ideas

CRANBROOK –NDP environment critic Rob Fleming (Victoria-Swan Lake) disrespects the wishes of the people of East Kootenay when he calls for a national park in the Flathead Valley. During debate of the Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act, East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett schooled the NDP on the realities of the situation on the ground.
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“The NDP failed to consult with the people of East Kootenay about their sneaky ‘Conservation Area’ when they were in government and now, 10 years later, the NDP environment critic wants to impose a national park on my constituents,” says Bennett.

‪The NDP environment critic rose in the House today and asked that the government commit to a feasibility study for a national park in the Flathead Valley and repeatedly stated that removing mining and oil and gas is just the start, as far as the NDP is concerned.

‪“The Opposition think the best way to manage everything, the best way to protect everything, is to just put a park there,” continued MLA Bennett. “I've often wondered how exactly creating a national park in the Flathead Valley is somehow going to be better. How would the current situation be improved by attracting thousands and thousands of international tourists into that valley?

‪“I’ve driven through Kootenay National Park and that’s not where I see all the wildlife. On the other hand, let me show you the Flathead Valley’s grizzly bears, elk, or deer that live and thrive there,” continued Bennett.

“The Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act demonstrates that British Columbia is leading the way when it comes to land conservation without haphazardly establishing parks across our province.”

"The East already has 16 per cent of its land parked...leave us alone and allow us to make a living from the land."
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The Flathead Watershed Area Act simply legislates the terms of the agreement between B.C. and Montana while protecting the existing traditional uses of recreation, guiding, trapping and logging. 

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