February 14, 2009 - Representatives from nine environmental organizations will be at Tuesday's budget lock-up in Victoria (February 17) and will be available for media interviews.
Among other issues, the groups will be looking to see if the
provincial government keeps climate commitments made in last year's
budget, including continuation of the revenue-neutral carbon tax, $4.75
billion in new funding for the provincial transit plan over 12 years
and other climate change promises.
The groups will also be looking for cross-budget consistency to ensure there is no major disconnect with B.C.'s climate change plan. For example, we will be looking for a phase-out of subsidies to the oil and gas sector. Allocations for protection of species at-risk, closed containment salmon farming and a marine protected areas system for the Pacific coast will also be scrutinized.
Environmental groups joining the February 17 budget lock-up are:
- B.C. Sustainable Energy Association
- David Suzuki Foundation
- Dogwood
Initiative
- ForestEthics
- Georgia Strait Alliance
- Living Oceans
Society
- Sierra Club BC
- Society Promoting Environmental Conservation
- West Coast Environmental Law
The groups will be issuing an environmental report card at the close of the lock-up.
