British Columbia, a province divided

The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously ruled Thursday that a British Columbia mining development can go ahead, even though the court said the project didn't go through all the required environmental assessments.

Source: CBC News

Source Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFhBtUJgf48

A land portrayed as vast hectares of untouched, plentiful forests, moose drinking from still mountain lakes and bears catching wild salmon in the rivers, British Columbia was once just like it is promoted to be.  In some areas, one can still find parts of B.C. where this theme still holds true.  Sadly, if one were to venture into the wilds of B.C. and Canada’s north one might also come across some ugly surprises. 

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when explorers, fur traders and homesteaders looking to get away from the overpopulation and crowding of many overseas countries came to British Columbia to join the native inhabitants, they found a province rich with resources.  Although money and success was a main factor for many of those who flocked to British Columbia at the turn of the century, people were generally in search of a better life. 

In 2010, many activities and industries that once fed, sustained and employed large groups of Canadians and were maybe even considered part of the framework of Canada are now looked upon and proven as environmentally harmful or even hazardous.  The thought raises many questions for society as a whole.  Where do we draw the line?  Save our environment or sustain our economy, there has to be a middle ground. 

One significantly noticeable change in the British Columbia landscape over the last hundred years is the acres and acres of dead and missing forests that now landscape the province.  A logging and lumber industry that was once considered the backbone of B.C.’s economy is now almost defunct.  Men that have been successfully logging the back country of the province for their entire lives sit at home unemployed while college students busily replant the devastated forests trying to repair the imprint left by many years of extensive logging.

The hunting of animals for food and trade has been employed all over the planet since history began.  Throughout history, poaching and the mass slaughter of animals ruined the game for the responsible hunter or the man trying to support his family.  In the day and age of the Walmart and Costco, we tend to forget that there are still people all over this planet that rely on hunting for food to feed their families, not everyone’s steak comes from the meat counter at the local grocery store!

In 2010, despite the many environmental concerns that plague the planet, the Canadian government will still give the go ahead to mining projects that plan to use our fresh water lakes as slag ponds for their waste.  If this is how our we wish to continue conducting the affairs of our province, British Columbia and its people will continue to be a province divided.  Do we save our environment or sustain our economy?