VICTORIA – The 2015 British Columbia Budget contains few surprises for environmental protection. Investment in tackling climate change is limited as are monies for forestry and environmental oversight.

“While we are pleased to see some money set aside for implementation of the Water Sustainability Act, the budget is spineless on real protection of BC’s environment, ” said Gwen Barlee, policy director with the Wilderness Committee. “What we need is an investment in our parks, conservation officers, climate action, and the Environmental Assessment Office and that simply isn’t there.”

Budget lines remain flat for most departments concerned with the environment, with the exception of $25 million for the implementation of the Water Sustainability Act, projected to be in force in 2016. The Climate Action Program also saw a bump of $16 million, of which $9 million is dedicated to incentivise the concrete industry to switch to cleaner fuels and $7 million tagged for the retirement of carbon offsets associated with the dissolution of the Pacific Carbon Trust.

“British Columbians want real leadership on climate change, but this government has failed to deliver, yet again – providing small incentives for things like electric cars while working to build a whole new fossil fuel industry is irresponsible in 2015,” said Torrance Coste, the Wilderness Committee’s Vancouver Island Campaigner.

Budget increases to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations are minimal, especially given serious shortcomings of the sector in terms of sustainable forest management and job creation in recent years. Revenues from the oil and gas sector are less than half of what the government obtains from Medical Services Premiums.

“The government mentions the importance of forestry but it’s not putting money where its mouth is in this budget,” Coste said. “We need significant investment to improve management of our forests and ensure environmental sustainability, and to curb job-killing practices like raw log exports.”

“Putting money aside for environmental protection is a smart investment in the future, ” said Barlee. “Clean air, fresh water, diverse wildlife and a stable climate are the backbone of a healthy economy. Instead of looking at environmental protection as a drain on resources the government should be looking at it as an opportunity to ensure a healthy and wealthy British Columbia.”