The environmental assessment for the Malahat Highway construction project has revealed that the Ministry of Transportation and Transit would be knowingly destroying an ecosystem.

Some of the residual impacts are expected to include:

• Permanent loss of mature coniferous forest habitat, including potential loss to red and blue-listed ecosystems.
• Permanent loss or alteration of aquatic salmonid and amphibian habitat associated with the removal of riparian vegetation or habitat near the Goldstream River.
• Loss of wildlife habitat through reduction in wildlife vegetation along the highway, and habitat fragmentation.
• Potential loss of bat roosting habitat in cliff areas.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure — now the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) — contracted an environmental assessment from McElhanney Ltd. This assessment was completed in January 2024. It was gained through a supporter’s Freedom of Information request.

The report revealed that by knowingly contributing to the permanent loss or alteration of salmon habitat, the MOTT would be infringing on the Douglas Treaty rights held by the  W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples.

W̱SÁNEĆ Elder ZȺWIZUT Carl Olsen has been leading the movement against this highway construction since it was proposed! We will continue to support him by working to ensure people who care about these places have all the available facts.