BC voters prioritize nature and environment in upcoming election
For interviews, contact:
Tori Ball
604-685-7445 x24
tori@cpawsbc.org
BC voters prioritize nature and environment in upcoming election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2020
Traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples/Vancouver, BC — In the midst of a global health crisis and the rush of a snap election, safeguarding nature remains a high priority for British Columbians. A new online survey from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society’s BC Chapter (CPAWS-BC) found that 67% of British Columbians say conservation and environment issues are very important or extremely important to them as voters, and want the government to protect more of our lands and ocean.
“The message is clear – British Columbians want the province to focus on safeguarding nature, and to prioritize wildlife and habitat protection. Any party wishing to form the next government will need to have a strong, credible plan for conservation and be ready to back it up with real action,” says Bruce Passmore, Executive Director with CPAWS-BC.
Additional key findings of the survey include:
- Widespread support for increasing protection of BC’s lands and ocean: 87% think the province should commit to protecting 25% of BC’s lands and ocean by 2025
- Strong demand for increasing investment in provincial parks: 86% think the province should invest more funding into BC Parks
- Healthy oceans matter: 94% say it is very important or extremely important that ocean and coastal ecosystems are healthy
- Current approach to coastal management needs a renovation: 81% think the province should create a new plan and law for BC’s coast
“British Columbians recognize the urgent need to find solutions to climate change and to stem biodiversity loss. The question now isn’t whether or not we need to take action, it’s what will the next government actually do to drive conservation forward in BC,” says Passmore.
CPAWS-BC is calling on all parties to prioritize wildlife conservation and habitat protection, commit to fixing our neglected provincial parks, and work on building a cohesive plan for a healthy coast. All of this work must be undertaken with a clear and meaningful commitment to reconciliation, working with original and ongoing stewards of BC’s lands and waters.
“The voters of BC are demanding real action to protect the lands, waters and wildlife that we all depend on. BC has a reputation for being bold, and we hope to see politicians stepping up to the plate with bold commitments during the election period and beyond,” says Passmore.
This survey was conducted online between October 3 and 8. Responses were collected from 1041 British Columbians, with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of plus or minus (±) 3%.
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For interviews, contact:
Tori Ball
604-685-7445 x24
tori@cpawsbc.org
Key survey results (infograph):
