Local forest advocates gathered in Nelson on Monday to call on Premier David Eby’s government to increase protections for old-growth forests.
Eby was in the region this week, visiting and touring local facilities.
More than 140 people attended a demonstration outside Kootenay Central MLA Brittny Anderson’s office at about 5 p.m. Organizer Rita Corcoran said protesters eventually relocated to Taghum Hall after learning Eby was expected to attend an event there.
“We wanted to share the message that we want his government to protect the last remaining tracts of old growth,” said Corcoran.
Corcoran said the group is concerned about ongoing logging in what she described as B.C.’s remaining high-productivity old-growth forests. She said participants feel the province has failed to follow through on commitments made following the Old Growth Strategic Review.
“They’re not fulfilling the promises they’ve made for environmental protection and in particular in implementing the recommendations from the Old Growth Strategic Review,” she said. “They’ve been sort of going backwards and breaking promises that they made.”
The group had hoped to deliver that message directly to Eby.
“We were hoping to talk to him directly and give him that same message directly in person about what we want and that we feel disappointed in the leadership,” said Corcoran. “But he didn’t arrive.”
She said about 70 people gathered outside Taghum Hall after the protest moved from Anderson’s office.
In a statement, Anderson said the premier would have been willing to speak with the group, but the RCMP made a security assessment that affected those plans.
“I’ve seen the premier meet with protesters across the province, and I know he would have been happy to meet with them here in Nelson as well,” Anderson said. “The RCMP made a security assessment, and we have to respect the decision that they made.”
While the group was unable to speak with Eby, Corcoran said Anderson briefly made herself available to some participants
“She was outside and she did speak to a couple of us briefly and then she went inside,” Corcoran said. “She didn’t address the group of us directly, though.”
Corcoran said protesters remain frustrated with what they view as a lack of action on old-growth logging.
“It’s actually kind of shocking to me that they would just disregard the opinions and the feelings and how a vast majority of people in British Columbia want to protect the last remaining old-growth forests,” she said.
Corcoran said she believes that frustration is extending beyond environmental organizations and could have political consequences for the governing NDP.
“The green vote is moving away from the NDP,” she said. “And as a former NDP voter, I don’t think I will going forward. I just can’t do it. When you get lied to and disappointed to this degree, how do you put faith in that party again?”
While critical of the government’s approach to old-growth logging, Corcoran said she believes Anderson has been supportive of forest-protection efforts and encouraged her to continue advocating for the issue.
“I think Brittny believes in this and I think that she needs to keep pushing for that,” she said. “At the same time, if she’s going to be part of a party that’s going to be logging old growth, I’m sorry I can’t support you anymore.”
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