Re Boundary Bay Preservation

Just to show what local conservationists are up against regarding Boundary
Bay, and as a reminder of where the real power lies, either the federal or
provincial ministry responsible for the environment issued a permit to a
movie company to erect a replica of a historic Siberian village--I am not
making this up--on the fragile foreshore marsh exactly in the area the
Snowy Owls use each winter. They're due back pretty much any day now. What
a surprise awaits them. There's already been damage from construction.

This on the eve of a conference devoted to finding ways to save the Bay,
*which the people in the ministry knew of*. A pretty naked reminder.

I'd like to thank everyone who expressed interest in this conference, the
Forum on Boundary Bay, and support for its aim of preserving at least some
of this wonderful site from exploitation and development. As one can see
from this all-too-typical instance, the non-game wildlife in this province
needs all the help it can get and obviously cannot expect it from the
government departments charged with providing that protection. Usually
quite the opposite.

As a response to the interest shown by people unable to attend, I will be
posting a summary (not long) of its proceedings, when available.

Michael Price
Vancouver BC Canada
michael_price at mindlink.bc.ca