“Working from a signed agreement is a major achievement,” said Judy Leicester, chair of Sierra Quadra. “We are sure that this  is our last chance to acquire the central 395 hectares that link the two parks.”

"Public efforts to preserve 395 hectares of land connecting Octopus Islands and Small Inlet parks date back 16 years," said Sarah Cox of Sierra Club B.C."It's a very important piece of land that connects two great parks."

Read the story in the Times Colonist.

This property features an historic portage trail connecting the east and west shores of Quadra across the island's narrowest span. It is an area of great archeological significance, whose unique features include aboriginal clam gardens and a historic portage trail. There is also a rare freshwater spring and part of the trail to Newton Lake where yachters and hikers traditionally swim and watch local loons. Scenic viewscapes from the Octopus Islands and from Small Inlet make for a spectacular hiking or kayaking experience.

The B.C. government has signed a conditional agreement with the landowner. The government is working out a strategy to secure the required $6.15 million by the closing date of September 28.

The government has secured the majority of the funds needed but a portion is still necessary to secure the sale. Under the banner of the Quadra Island Conservancy Society, a committee of Quadra residents which includes Sierra Quadra is launching a fundraising campaign to raise part of the outstanding amount. To support the fundraising campaign, email swest@gicable.com

“This area has exceptional conservation and recreational values. It is one of the most popular marine wilderness destinations on B.C.’s coast and it needs to be protected rather than be logged or developed which would be its fate should the sale not be completed,” said Judy Leicester.

“Together, we need to make this one last push to ensure that the heart of these Quadra parks is protected now and forever.”

Sierra Club BC Executive Director, George Heyman, said there are two major changes in the terms of reference compared to the panel that concluded the project shouldn't go ahead.

"The first panel was explicitly mandated to include rationale, conclusions and make recommendations relating to the environmental aspects of the assessment," he said.

"Today the new panel was expressly prohibited from drawing conclusions or making recommendations about whether adverse environmental impacts are justifiable," said Sierra Club BC's Executive Director, George Heyman. "The government will not only make the decision, it will create the conclusions to support their decision as well, rather than leave it to a science-based panel."

Read the story in the Vancouver Sun.

The original panel, which issued a scathing rejection of the Fish Lake proposal, was mandated to consider the impact of the mine on First Nations rights and title. Under the new terms the panel may only review and summarize that information.

In a press release issued on May 11, the Tsilhqot’in Nation reaffirmed its position that the mine cannot be approved and that the entire credibility of Canada’s environmental assessment process hangs in the balance.  The mine is a major environmental threat to the headwaters of the Taseko Lake and River systems, the press release said.

“We are fighting for our cultural survival,“ said Chief Marilyn Baptiste of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation. “The Tsilhqot’in have protected our headwaters and salmon for generations and we won’t stop now.  Keeping our waters clean and salmon safe is for everybody, not just the Tsilhqot’in.”

Recently, the Tsilhqot'in were in Geneva, presenting to the United Nations. Chief Marilyn Baptiste of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government was in Switzerland to report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) 80^th Session.

Read about the trip in the Williams Lake Tribune.

The Tsilhqot’in report focused on the fight to protect Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) and its environs from the proposed "New Prosperity" mine proposal, and the "underlying legal regime which sees First Nations rights and title ignored and bad mining projects forced upon communities against their will".

Taseko Mines Ltd.’s original proposal for an open pit mine near Williams Lake was rejected in November 2010 by former federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice, following a scathing environmental assessment that concluded the mine would cause irreparable damage to First Nations rights, as well as to fish stocks and at-risk grizzly populations.

The proposed mine is on the traditional lands of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation, a member of the Tsilhqot’in National Government, which won a court case recognizing its rights to the area and is staunchly opposed to the mine. Read Chief Marilyn Baptiste's letter in the Vancouver Sun.

One year later, in November 2011, Ottawa accepted a second open pit mine proposal from Taseko for environmental review. The company’s first proposal would have turned Fish Lake – home to 80,000 rainbow trout and once featured on a B.C. tourism brochure – into a waste rock dump. The proposal under current review would see Fish Lake rendered unusable for up to 33 years. Little Fish Lake, which is crucial to the ecosystem that supports the unique trout population, would be destroyed.

Read our press release.

“There is something seriously wrong with our assessment process when a company like Taseko can simply re-submit a mining proposal after it has been soundly rejected," said Sierra Club BC Executive Director George Heyman. "It would be a far better use of time and money to focus on mining proposals that are more environmentally appropriate and have the support of First Nations.”

Changes to the federal Fisheries Act allow metal mining corporations to use Canadian lakes to dispose of the millions of tonnes of toxic waste rock and tailings they generate.  Little Fish Lake would be Canada’s fifth pristine natural water body authorized for destruction under this loophole, which was originally introduced solely to allow mines already approved and in existence to complete their economic life cycle.

Sierra Club BC and other groups are asking Ottawa to close the legislative loophole that allows destruction of Canada’s freshwater bodies for toxic mine tailings, and to ensure the intent of our Fisheries Act is no longer undermined.

Watch the Global TV news clip featuring comments on this proposal by Sierra Club BC's Executive Director, George Heyman.

The project has drawn strong opposition from First Nations, many of whom have experienced leaks from the existing Kinder Morgan pipeline. On April 16, four First Nations from the Kamloops-Nicola region called on Kinder Morgan to right existing wrongs first. “The 24-inch pipeline crossing our reserves has leaked in places, but they denied it even as they hauled away truckloads of oil soaked soil in 2008,” Harold Aljam, Chief of the Coldwater Indian Band from the Kamloops region, said in a press release. “Kinder Morgan Canada does not have a permit to operate the oil pipeline on our reserves."

Read the article in the Burnaby News Leader - Oil and Water: How safe are oil tankers travelling southern B.C. waters?

There is also strong opposition from the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation of Burrard inlet whose members still live with the consequences of the 2007 oil spill in Burnaby as well as the the residue of a crude spill that dates back to the 1950's.

Take action. Send a letter to Premier Christy Clark and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Local governments are concerned about the risk of disasters in a densely populated area. Mayors and councillors from around the province passed an emergency resolution calling for "the highest degree of environmental assessment" and "direct engagement with affected municipalities and regional authorities", at a Union of B.C. municipalities meeting in October 2011.

When - not if - a spill happens, we won't even have the facilities to clean it up. The federal government is shutting down B.C.'s emergency oil spill response facility in Vancouver and transferring its operations to Quebec.

Nearly two thousand people gathered at a March 26 rally in Vancouver to voice their opposition to tankers and pipelines on the B.C. coast, whether it's Enbridge or Kinder Morgan. Sierra Club BC's local group in the Lower Mainland was at the rally and participated in a letter-writing bee against the tankers, organized by a broad alliance of environmental and community groups. Check back with Sierra Lower Mainland for more no-tanker actions soon!

Take action. Write letters to your elected representatives, letters to editors, call in to radio shows, join (or start) a local group, find creative ways to make your voice heard.  Send a letter to Premier Christy Clark and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.