It has been nine years since I was hired by the citizens of North Vancouver to represent them in Parliament.
During most of that time, I have also been privileged to serve more broadly as a member of the federal Cabinet – first as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, then as Minister of Environment and Climate Change and currently as Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
I mention this in the context of the breadth of opportunity these jobs have provided to serve not only North Vancouver – my priority - but also our province and our country.
Last month in this space, I shared an “MP Impact Report Card” focused locally on the North Shore. The intent was to provide visibility and accountability on some key results of my efforts on your behalf.
This month, in a similar spirit, I offer a second report card focused on the impact of my work at the provincial level.
Impacts
Preservation of ecosystems and the pursuit/creation of sustainable economic opportunities lie at the core of why I entered politics. In that context, here are some provincial-level achievements I believe have had significant impact:
Fisheries
Reopening the Kitsilano Coast Guard Base
Developing Canada’s Whales Initiative – a $167M program to protect and restore threatened whale species including the Southern Resident Killer Whale.
Leading the creation of the BC Salmon Restoration & Innovation Fund - including a federal investment of $100M.
Ending open net salmon aquaculture in BC.
Creating eight new marine refuges to protect glass sponge reefs in Howe Sound.
Environment
$50M to establish an Old Growth Fund for the protection of old growth forests - later enshrined as part of a $1B BC Nature Agreement (including Provincial contributions).
Developed an historic conservation agreement with BC and the Saulteaux and West Moberly First Nations to protect and conserve Southern Mountain caribou. These herds are among the few in the country whose populations are now growing.
$212M in federal funding for the Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant and $15.3M in funding to support the replacement of underground wastewater and water infrastructure in Victoria.
Energy and Natural Resources
Secured the surrender of all (227) offshore oil and gas development licenses on the Pacific coast.
$867M through our Softwood Lumber Action Plan to support workers and communities, diversify our markets, help producers access services, and keep the sector on the cutting edge of the bioeconomy.
$368.4M over three years for a wide range of forestry initiatives including strengthening Indigenous leadership in the forest sector, forestry research exploring low-carbon building projects, export of sustainably sourced Canadian forest products, expanded use of biofuels and utilization of stranded wood fibre and wood waste.