Rumours are running amok in B.C.’s north over what the province might do to protect endangered mountain caribou and the MLA for Peace River South is asking for clarity.
Mike Bernier says while the province has met with area First Nations about protecting the mountain caribou everyone else is in the dark.
“There have been numerous meetings that have been scheduled in northern B.C. but everyone single one of them to date has been cancelled by the province with short notice,” Bernier said. “I got a hold of them and asked them why they were being cancelled.”
“They actually told me that there were so many people who were upset we don’t want to send our staff up there until we have concrete information that we can share.”
Bernier says the void of information has led to fears running through the area that the province will just close down vast swaths of crown land to any camping, snowmobiling, ATVing, or hiking.
He thinks the province needs to provide some assurances to allay the fears and invite local stakeholders to the table to hear their expertise.