BC Budget Media Advisory from 8 Environmental Groups

Victoria, August 31st, 2009 - Major BC environmental organizations will be attending the budget lock-up in Victoria on Tuesday September 1, 2009.

Our organizations note recent survey results showing that Canadians overwhelmingly want government to ensure environmental protection despite the recession. More than two-thirds of Canadians rank protecting the environment on par with addressing economic problems*.

Key budget commitments environmental organizations will be looking for include:

• Funding support for the Endangered Species Task Force announced in the Throne Speech as well as greater support for environmental stewardship and protection;
• Economic stimulus investment, such as a renewed commitment to the successful LiveSmart or similar building retrofit programs, that demonstrates government's Throne Speech assertion that job creation will come from being a "global leader in clean energy and energy conservation [and] in green building technologies";
• Other clear evidence that government will seek to achieve both environmental and job creation objectives in its stimulus spending, continuing previous efforts to build the new green economy of the future rather than falling back on 'old economy' models - unsustainable resource extraction, infrastructure investments that increase carbon emissions - which further widen an already untenable ecological deficit.

The organizations and representatives present will include:

• BC Sustainable Energy Association - Tom Hackney (250-744-2720)
• Dogwood Initiative - Will Horter (250-418-1672)
• ForestEthics - Merran Smith (604-816-5636)
• Georgia Strait Alliance - Christianne Wilhelmson (604-862-7579 - French language interviews also available)
• Pembina Institute - Matt Horne (778-235-1476)
• Sierra Club BC - George Heyman (604-312-6595)
• Western Canada Wilderness Committee - Gwen Barlee (604-202-0322)
• West Coast Environmental Law - Andrew Gage (250-412-9784)

Canadian Press Harris-Decima Survey, July 2009

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