The letter calls on the Premier to support the Final Recommended Plan that was originally submitted by the Planning Commission.

“The Peel itself is intact as a landscape relatively free from human activity. We should do our utmost to preserve it, not just for its beauty, yet also for the service it supplies to our Northern ecosystems under pressure from both climate change and human encroachment,” says May in the letter.

“I appreciate that there are mining interests in the Peel which predate the start of the planning process. I think you can and should be able to resolve the pre-existing claims with creativity and fairness,” adds May.

NOTE: Link to the open letter.

The post Open Letter to Yukon Premier on Peel Watershed Plan appeared first on Elizabeth May.

February 25, 2013

I am writing to you today at the close of the public input period regarding the Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan and the new land use designations you have proposed to the public.

I urge you to embrace the Final Recommended Plan that was originally submitted by the Planning Commission.

There are three simple yet critical reasons for my recommendation to you. First is that the Peel itself is intact as a landscape relatively free from human activity. We should do our utmost to preserve it, not just for its beauty, yet also for the service it supplies to our Northern ecosystems under pressure from both climate change and human encroachment.

I appreciate that there are mining interests in the Peel which predate the start of the planning process. I think you can and should be able to resolve the pre-existing claims with creativity and fairness.

The second reason is that under the Umbrella Final Agreement, land use planning became an obligation to work with First Nation Governments. The land use process should honour the spirit and intent of the Umbrella Final Agreement. It is my concern that the new land use designations you have proposed, should you go forward with them, may be divisive and/or challenged.

The final reason has to do with democracy and public service. During the Yukon election in the fall of 2011, the Peel was an issue of debate. At the time you stated that you were concerned about the polarization of the issue and that you would not be providing any detailed comment on the subject as it was in process. You won that election with a majority of seats (although not with a majority of votes).

If you now use your majority government position to adopt a future for the Peel watershed which opens it up for more development, you will break public trust. The mandate you received from Yukoners, is to ensure that the issue is not polarized any further and to carry out the broad will of the public. Your duty is to the whole of the Yukon.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth May, O.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands
Leader of the Green Party of Canada

The post Open letter to the Honourable Darrell Pasloski and Honourable Brad Cathers appeared first on Elizabeth May.

Here at Maclean’s, we appreciate the written word. And we appreciate you, the reader. We are always looking for ways to create a better user experience for you and wanted to try out a new functionality that provides you with a reading experience in which the words and fonts take centre stage. We believe you’ll appreciate the clean, white layout as you read our feature articles. But we don’t want to force it on you and it’s completely optional. Click “View in Clean Reading Mode” on any article if you want to try it out. Once there, you can click “Go back to regular view” at the top or bottom of the article to return to the regular layout.

The Green MP had the the final question this afternoon and rose with the following.

Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a genuine concern and I hope the Prime Minister can allay my fears. I have heard, from credible sources within the government, that there is a proposal to eliminate Environment Canada by merging it with Natural Resources Canada. If it had not been from credible sources, I would not be putting this question to him. I would like assurances that no such plan is under consideration.

View the full original article >>

The post appeared first on Elizabeth May.

The post (Français) Environnement Canada est là pour rester appeared first on Elizabeth May.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is dismissing claims by the Green party that the government plans to fold Environment Canada into the Natural Resources Department.

Harper calls the claim ”misinformation,” although he has not outright denied plans were in the works to combine the two departments.

Green party Leader Elizabeth May says credible sources within the government have told her party of the merger plans.

View the full original article >>

The post Harper rejects Green claims of Environment, Natural Resources merger appeared first on Elizabeth May.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May says senior sources who would lose their jobs if they went public have told her that the Conservative government is planning to eliminate the federal environment department and merge any remaining functions with Natural Resources Canada. The government categorically denied the suggestion.

Ms. May asked the government about the rumour at the end of the daily Question Period on Tuesday. “If it had not been from credible sources, I would not be putting this question to you,” she told the Commons. “I would like assurances that no such plan is under consideration.”

But if Ms. May was hoping to hear that her sources were mistaken, her fears were not allayed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “I would be delighted to meet any of these credible sources and to correct any misinformation that may have been given the honourable member,” was Mr. Harper’s brief reply.

View the full original article >>

The post Environment Canada on chopping block, Elizabeth May says appeared first on Elizabeth May.

Elizabeth May had a surprise for everyone at the very end of question period Tuesday.

“I rise today with a genuine concern and I hope the prime minister can allay my fears,” she began. “I have heard from credible sources within the government that there is a proposal to eliminate Environment Canada by merging it with Natural Resources Canada.”

It was quite the bomb to drop on MPs who, as they usually do near that time of day, were packing their belongings to flee toward the exits.

View the full original article >>

The post May says Environment Canada to be merged; PMO says No appeared first on Elizabeth May.

Re: “Religion and politics make frightful bedfellows,” Sept. 12.

Jack Knox’s column illustrated the opposite of what the headline said, at least as far as Canada is concerned.

Knox cites Trudeau’s Catholic-based belief in the sanctity of the individual leading to the Charter of Rights, and Baptist Tommy Douglas, who championed Medicare and whose Christian principles are embedded in the social philosophy of the New Democrats. There are many other examples.

And today we have Elizabeth May, who is again illustrating for us that politicians whose lives are faith-based can have an effective part to play in moulding our country’s character.

Far from the suggestion that religion and politics are chalk and cheese, we have throughout Canada’s history been blessed to have many political leaders whose strong faith convictions have underpinned their political lives to our benefit.

John Smith
Saanichton

View the full original article >>

The post Politics and religion can work together appeared first on Elizabeth May.

“It is obvious that the Harper Conservatives are blasting ahead with their plans to allow any and all development to take precedence over environmental protection, so I don’t know why they are bothering with a consultation,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands. 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has been the target of drastic cuts, including a vital toxicology group in New Brunswick which monitors marine toxins, among other programs. 

“We’ve lost nine scientists in my riding, including internationally respected marine mammal expert Dr. Peter Ross, as part of the eradication of the entire DFO contaminants program.  This is a clear and chilling signal that marine pollution is no longer of concern to the Harper Conservatives,” said May.

“There will now be no oversight of marine toxins, including from the aquaculture industry,” said Green Fisheries Critic Janice Harvey.  “There is a definite lack of concern for ecosystem management.  Trying to protect a particular recreational or commercial fish species in isolation just shows a complete lack of understanding of the way marine ecosystems work.”

Almost 4000 federal public servants are currently waiting to find out whether they will lose their jobs.

Within DFO, 48 habitat management offices across Canada have been eliminated.  “With all of the scientists laid off, there will be no one left to raise the alarm when habitat is being damaged,” said Harvey.

According to Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield, this summer’s consultation process is meant to figure out how to implement changes to the Fisheries Act.

“There is no implementing these changes. The changes have gutted the entire act.  Perhaps the implementation part is figuring out how to further speed the growth of resource extraction? Because it sure isn’t about protecting fish,” said May.

The post As DFO Jobs End, Consultations Begin? appeared first on Elizabeth May.

The Committee has been studying the topic of Shared Services for a few weeks now to gain comprehensive knowledge of how to improve and modernize government IT services while limiting disruptions in service.

The post Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates appeared first on Elizabeth May.