Use this easy letter-writing tool from Endangered Ecosystems Alliance.
Question local candidates before the Oct 24 election
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Do you support ending the logging of old-growth forests within an established time frame, and will you advocate for this in your party?
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Will you support priority funding to help First Nations who wish to create Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) so they aren’t economically forced to log high-risk old growth?
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Will you champion an Ecosystem Health Law that legally binds the province to biodiversity targets and prevents industry-led planning from overriding forest health?
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What specific policy changes will you champion to redirect raw logs to local value-added manufacturers instead of exporting them?
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Currently, the government tends to ‘protect’ old-growth forests of smaller trees that aren’t commercially viable. Meanwhile, they permit logging on big-tree old-growth stands. Will you commit to ending this practice?
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Some of BC’s most at-risk ecosystems and mature old-growth stands exist on private land, particularly on Vancouver Island. Will you support a dedicated, annual Land Acquisition Fund to purchase and permanently protect these high-conservation-value private lands?
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Clearcutting and replacing established forests with uniform, single-specie tree plantations has been shown to increase wildfires, flooding, and landslides. Will you support an end to clearcutting?
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Will you mandate a complete overhaul of replanting practices to ban glyphosate-style herbicides and legally enforce biodiverse, resilient forest restoration instead?
Tips for Questioning your local MLA Candidate:
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Identify yourself as a constituent: Always start by giving your name and neighborhood so they know you are a local voter.
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Ask questions requiring specific answers. Follow up on vague answers: If a candidate says they “support old growth,” press them on the how. Ask: “What specific mechanisms or funding models will your party use to achieve that?”
- Make use of your local constituency office. If you cannot attend a debate, you can use these questions during a booked face-to-face meeting at their constituency office or via an email campaign.omm