Pacific Spirit Park Land issue

The Sierra Club of Canada, Lower Mainland Group, like to express our opposition to the plan the Premier has laid out to resolve the Musqueam band's legal action against the province (spurred by the sale of the University Golf Course to UBC without proper consultation) which involves expropriation of public parkland controlled by Metro Vancouver.

With regards to Pacific Spirit Park in particular:
We, the Lower Mainland Group of the Sierra Club of Canada, oppose any transfer of Pacific Spirit Park land away from its current landholders for any purpose whatsoever. We also oppose any development of Pacific Spirit Park land for any purpose whatsoever. We recognize that the majority of the Lower Mainland is unceded First Nations territory, but we are certain that a resolution with the Musqueam band can be found that does not impact Pacific Spirit park.

Regarding public parkland in general:
It is worth noting that the BC Treaty negotiations process, as a matter of policy, specifically excludes public parkland from being part of any land claim resolution. Public parkland must not be used to settle legal disputes either - with First Nations or any other party. This practice, regardless of who the disputing parties are, will result in an incredibly dangerous precedent that would put all protected areas in the province at risk.
More information on this issue:

Friends of Pacific Spirit Park

Save the Course

Take action on this issue!!

Write or call the Premier and let him know what you think of his decision:

premier@gov.bc.ca or (250) 387-1715.

And his Minister of Aboriginal Relations:

Mike.deJong.MLA@leg.bc.ca or (250) 953-4844.

And the Opposition Leader:

carole.james.mla@leg.bc.ca

And the Directors of Metro Vancouver:

mayorferguson@abbotsford.ca; moegill@shaw.ca;

hal_weinberg@sfu.ca; rdrew@belcarra.ca; dhocking@

shaw.ca; mayor.corrigan@burnaby.ca; cjordan@

comsavings.com; mwilson@coquitlam.ca;

blynch@coquitlam.ca; mayor@corp.delta.bc.ca;

gbgibson@telus.net; gmartin@langleycity.ca; kalberts@

tol.bc.ca; office@village.lions-bay.bc.ca;

jdueck@mapleridge.org;

wwright@newwestcity.ca; mayor@cnv.org; dmaclean@

pittmeadows.bc.ca; rwalton@dnv.org;

wrightm@portcoquitlam.ca;

joe.trasolini@cityofportmoody.com; mayorea@

richmond.ca; mayorandcouncillors@

richmond.ca; lmhepner@surrey.ca;

jmhunt@surrey.ca; hbsteele@surrey.ca;

dlwatts@surrey.ca; clranton@vancouver.ca;

clrball@vancouver.ca; clrcapri@vancouver.ca; peter.

ladner@vancouver.ca; clrlee@vancouver.ca;

clrstevenson@vancouver.ca; pgoldsmithjones@

westvancouver.ca;

jforster@city.whiterock.bc.ca

For ideas and help about letter writing check out the TAKE ACTION section of our website