Federal NDP MP Randall Garrison, whose riding is Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, will introduce legislation in the upcoming session of Parliament to restore protection to Sproat Lake.
Garrison, Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart and New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly were all at the Mars waterbomber base at Sproat Lake to make the announcement on Tuesday. More will come, Garrison said.
Sproat Lake falls in Conservative MP James Lunney’s riding.
Randall said it is unusual for MPs to go into another MP’s riding and make an announcement. “I simply selected some lakes to get the dialogue going,” he said.
Sproat Lake was one of thousands of streams, rivers and lakes that were de-listed from environmental protection when the federal government passed the omnibus budget bill earlier this year.
Garrison said Great Central and Kennedy lakes will also be added to the list, and after Rick and Libby Avis brought up the importance of the Stamp/ Somass river system. he promised to add that as well.
Stewart said “James Lunney failed to stand up for his constituents” when the bill passed, so the NDP MPs are doing it for him.
editor@albernivalleynews.com