CSRD Area B candidates share their thoughts on the pending B.C. mountain caribou plan

For the first time since the early 1990s, Columbia Shuswap Regional District Area B is getting a new director.

As part of the Mountaineer’s coverage of the upcoming municipal election we have asked Area B director candidates a series of questions covering a wide-variety of issues likely to be central in the upcoming election. The series features verbatim answers written by the candidates.

In this final edition of the Mountaineer’s question and answer series we asked Electoral Area B director candidates to consider the following questions:

1. Following the recent federal environment minister’s declaration that mountain caribou in the Revelstoke area are facing an “imminent threat,” what are your plans and positions on this issue? What will you advocate for in terms of the provincial government’s new management plan for mountain caribou?

2. Revelstoke’s resource-based industries, such as forestry, have a significant stake in Area B. What can these resource-based industries expect from you as a director?

 Here are the candidates’ responses:

David Brooks-Hill

David Brooks-Hill is running for CSRD Electoral Area B director. Photo: David Brooks-Hill.

1. The mountain caribou issue is a difficult one. Currently the issue is one regarding the Federal Species at Risk Act under which mountain caribou are protected and whether or not the Province’s management of Crown land complies with this protection under Federal law. This issue is way beyond the scope of a CSRD Director’s powers to intervene. Any candidate who says otherwise is not being truthful. I will advocate (so far as it is effective) for more local input into such Crown land use decisions. If more (or any) local input is eventually put in place in the decision making process then I will advocate for whatever the residents of Area B want me to advocate for using online polling tools to gauge their positions on the issue.

2. The resource based industries in the CSRD generally rely on Crown land for their resources. As stated above, a CSRD Director unfortunately has very little to no say in the management and use of Crown land. I will push for more say in local Crown land use but I cannot promise this will have any headway. As far as issues affecting the resource industry that the CSRD can have an effect on such as the private land where mills or mines are located, I will do what I can to ensure the long term success of such industries and that as much local employment as possible is drawn from any resource industries

Doug Stuart

Doug Stuart is running for CSRD Electoral Area B Director. Photo: Doug Stuart.

1. I am aware the province is working on this issue. It is imperative that our community remains proactive so that our interests can be incorporated into any Provincial or Federal plan.

2. Downie Sawmill and CP Rail are the backbone of the Revelstoke economy. I wish to promote increased community involvement and dialog with resource-based industries.

George Buhler

George Buhler is running for CSRD Electoral Area B Director. Photo: George Buhler.

1. As the president of the Revelstoke Rod and Gun Club we are in communication with the wildlife biologists who make the decisions. We have been saying that a predator reduction is the only thing that will stabilize the caribou population. In a recent meeting they are in agreement with the strategy. As the CSRD director I will continue to lobby for the caribou.

2. I believe that the regional district should have a good relationship with logging industry as it is a big part of our community. I will listen to their concerns, and give them my support.