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From YouTube: DECEMBER 17 2020 Statements Tom Shypitka
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
1st Session
42nd Parliament
A
Member
for
kootenai
east,
mr
speaker,
we
as
british
columbians
put
a
value
on
our
forests,
minerals,
oil
and
gas,
but
we
put
no
value
on,
perhaps
our
greatest
resource
of
them
all
our
wildlife
and
habitat.
There
is
no
example
of
this
that
is
more
grossly
obvious
around
our
province
than
in
my
riding
of
kootenay
east.
At
one
time,
mr
speaker,
the
east
kootenays
were
referred
to
as
the
serengeti
of
north
america,
home
to
the
most
diverse
populations
of
predator
and
prey
on
our
continent,
but
no
longer,
mr
speaker,
we
still
have
the
diversity.
A
However,
our
population
numbers
have
plummeted.
So
how
do
we
prioritize
wildlife
and
habitat
in
the
province?
Well,
for
starters,
mr
speaker,
I
want
to
celebrate
all
of
our
strong
stewards
of
the
land
across
the
province.
I'm
talking
about
our
regional
biologists,
our
hunters
trappers,
guide,
outfitters
and
wildlife
enthusiasts
that
all
want
the
exact
same
thing,
and
that
is
to
restore
our
wildlife
populations
and
habitat
to
where
they
need
to
be
in
order
to
enjoy
the
beauty
and
recreation
that
we
all
deserve
in
a
concerted
effort.
A
These
fine
stewards
will
work
with
government
and
first
nations
to
make
decisions
that
are
specific
to
their
regions
of
this
massively
diverse
province
in
a
way
that
is
science-based
and
culturally
practiced
for
hundreds
of
years,
if
not
thousands.
Finally,
we
need
political
will
and
an
independent
funding
model
dedicated
to
wildlife
and
habitat
that
will
ensure
that
this
priority
will
be
with
us
for
many
generations
to
come.
Mr
speaker,
in
closing
I
would
like
to
say
that
this
is
not
radical
thinking.
Many
jurisdictions
have
done
this
with
great
success.
A
However,
to
my
knowledge,
no
government
in
our
prevent
in
our
province's
history,
has
ever
been
able
to
accomplish
what
I'm
suggesting.
I
know
we
have
enough
bright
minds
in
this
house
to
do
it.
I
invite
this
entire
legislature
to
open
your
ears
and
minds
to
this
enormous
issue
and
to
please
put
wildlife
and
habitat
high
in
your
list
of
priorities
in
order
for
a
stronger
british
columbia
now
and
in
the
future.
Thank
you.