The Premier is making changes to bring down the temperature in B.C.’s north over consultations to save endangered caribou that have caused an uproar.
John Horgan with a mea culpa saying he takes responsibility for consultations that inflamed tensions instead of addressing them.
“We as a new government didn’t do enough work to prepare the public for this process. We had an obligation.”
Horgan also added “I regret we didn’t start consultations earlier.”
To address the outrage Horgan says he has extended community consultations.
“We have added four more weeks to the consultations. It was to end April 30th it will now go to May 31st. Some people will feel that is not enough time. I believe that is adequate time.”
And in something of surprise Horgan admitted in areas of the province where the NDP do not have an elected MLA they need local help.
In this case he has brought on board former mayor, former BC Liberal MLA, former energy minister, and current Dawson Creek Councillor Blair Lekstrom.
“I have asked him to be my community liaison for the next six weeks as we continue on with the consultation.”
Lekstrom for his part says he will work to address anger from people over the process so far.
“It is not us and them it is all of us together”
He also acknowledged his job “will not be without its challenges.”
Lekstrom will be tasked with “engaging residents of the Peace region on draft partnership agreements on caribou recovery.”
