Greenwich news release

Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 10:44:55
To: slabchuk@isn.net
From: Sharon Labchuk <slabchuk@isn.net>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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EARTH ACTION
81 Prince Street  Charlottetown  PEI C1A 4R3   Tel: 902-621-0719   Email:
slabchuk@isn.net


MEDIA RELEASE     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


October 18, 1999


Charlottetown -  Earth Action is calling for a moratorium on all
development within and adjacent to Greenwich National Park until a federal
government-appointed panel struck last year to study how well our national
parks are being protected releases its report and recommendations next month.

The Island environmental organization is concerned that development of the
park is being-fast tracked to avoid radical changes to national parks
management that could be coming soon.  Jacques Gerrin is chair of The Panel
on Ecological Integrity in Canada's National Parks. On Sunday, Gerrin told
media that national parks are in deep trouble and that Parks Canada is
unable to protect them.  Gerrin says recommendations from his panel could
give government the chance to set the parks system along a bold new
conservation path.

Earth Action spokesperson Sharon Labchuk says, "The announcement last week
of a major development including a hotel, retail stores and interpretive
centre on crown land on the Greenwich National Park boundary was shocking.
Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay has made it very clear that he's on a
mission to create economic development in his riding and he intends to use
Greenwich National Park to do so.  Parks Canada has a mandate to put
ecological integrity above all else in managing the parks.  Mr. MacAulay's
blatant and shameful exploitation of this most fragile nature preserve must
be halted before it's too late."

Earth Action has complained in the past that Parks Canada on PEI has no
ecologist on staff and does not have the competency to chart a course for
the new park.  Labchuk says this view has been confirmed by Gerrin.  "Mr.
Gerrin said his panel found the pool of scientific talent in the parks
system was "very, very thin on the ground".  We're quite worried that with
cutbacks to the Parks Canada budget, unqualified staff persons are making
decisions that generate revenue through inappropriate and excessive
development which results in compromising nature protection."

Labchuk is also critical of the Binns government for its role in promoting
the new development project. "Both MacAulay and Binns should be ashamed of
themselves for pushing through a major development in the park when they
know full well that in a couple of weeks a federal government report,
highly critical of national park stewardship, will be released.  We'll be
seeking support from groups across Canada to ensure development in and
around Greenwich National Park is stopped until Canadians can be assured
that the ecological integrity of the park is not compromised for business
interests and politicking."

 -30- 

Contact: Sharon Labchuk   902-621-0719








********************************
Sharon Labchuk
Earth Action
81 Prince Street
Charlottetown, PEI  C1A 4R3
Phone: 902-368-7337 / 621-0719
Fax: 902-621-0719 
slabchuk@isn.net



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The preceding message was posted on the Sustainable Maritimes
mailing list (sust-mar).  http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/lists/sust-mar
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