Proceadings of the State of the Strait Conference

ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL ISSUES

While pollution of the marine and fresh water environments is increasing, penalties - even
if levied - are often not a deterrent to large companies. Responsible and truly professional
government workers and private industry employees can seldom give information to the
public without risk of dismissal or severe disciplinary action. Public hearings and reviews
of large industrial projects are also seriously handicapped by the public’s lack of informa-
tion and funds with which to hire legal help or technical expertise.

To: BC Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada

© Provide legislation to protect government and industry workers who report violations
of environmental regulations, or permissive and clandestine arrangements between regu-
lators and industry which condone environmental violations.

° Employ enough inspectors to fully monitor compliance with environmental! laws.

° Establish legislation providing compensation to those whose livelihoods are compro-
mised by environmental damage. : :

¢ Develop a program to provide significant intervenor funding for non-governmental
organizations applying to participate in environmental hearings and project reviews,

To: Attorney-General of BC
® Encourage judges to include visible community service work as well as fines and

imprisonment when sentencing corporate executives for pollution-related offences.

To: Environmental Sub-section of the Canadian Bar Association
* Establish a task force to explore ways by which the rights of non-human species can be
represented in legal actions.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES

A fundamental source of environmental degradation in Canada can be found in the
influence and control exerted over our economy by transnational corporations, often with
encouragement by our federal and provincial governments. This is certainly 4 strong
factor in the resource-based industries of the Georgia Strait region. The economic impacts
on people's lives is most evident in the treatment of the aboriginal peoples of the region, in
the destruction of their communities, economics and cultures. The need to redress these
wrongs and - for both native and non-native people - to create healthy communities which
control their own destinies is of paramount importance,

To: the Governments of Canada and British Columbia

° Give an urgent priority to the settlement of all native land claims.

° Recognize the importance of fish and shellfish in native culture, and ensure that this
traditional food source be maintained ina healthy state. Where fisheries have to be closed
due to pollution, ensure that native people affected by ‘the closure receive full and
equivalent compensation.