The Federal Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development passed a motion last week to urge the Federal Liberal Government to help establish a one billion dollar watershed security fund for British Columbia.

MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley Taylor Bachrach tabled the motion during committee meetings earlier this month to much debate. But in the end, the committee passed the motion, specifically calling on the federal government to contribute matching funds already put up by the province of BC, to the tune of $400 million dollars. Four from the feds, four from the province and the BC Wildlife Federation would raise the remains $200 million dollars through private donation. Bachrach moving the motion in committee.

Though, bureaucratically cumbersome, the committee debate ended positively, however there were many on the committee from Eastern Canadian provinces saying, “hey, if B.C.’s watersheds get a billion dollars, so should Quebec and Ontario.”

All pointing to the increasing need to help fortify watersheds and habitat against extreme natural weather events and the onslaught of climate climate change, especially for the critically important Fraser and Skeena watersheds.

We spoke with BC Wildlife Federation executive Director Jesse Zeman about the importance of the fund for BC, why now is the time, and how they can make this happen soon rather than later.