The Horgan government is temporarily banning oil, gas, timber cutting and road construction activity in part of the Peace Region to try and protect mountain caribou.

The moratorium covers more than 730,000 hectares and will be in place for up to two years, to allow time for the province to work with First Nations and local governments for a long-term caribou strategy. The province says existing resource development approvals in that area will not be affected.

Premier John Horgan says the ban was one on 14 recommendations in the Lekstrom report – released today by former Peace River South Liberal MLA and current Dawson Creek councillor Blair Lekstrom.

“I believe that gives a genuine sense of purpose to the Species At Risk legislation that the federal government is using to direct our attention to the caribou issue. And it also says to industrial users and workers and families that we are prepared to do whatever we can to protect the moutain caribou,” Horgan says.

“But there’s much more work to do. I’ve asked Blair to stay on as my community liaison. We’ll continue to have dialogue with elected representatives in the region, as well as with various stakeholders, so that we can have a way forward that will protect the caribou habitat and expand their populations. As well as ensure that we work with the federal government on any mitigation measures that may be needed.”

“I’ve stated in the report, caribou is everybody’s issue,” Lekstrom says. The most fundamental thing is we want to ensure that the land base in which we operate is looked after. But we find the balance of the families and the workers and the resource industry workers are allowed to go to work and provide for their families. Do I think we can find that balance? Yes I do.”

Horgan says he doesn’t anticipate the moratorium lasting the full two years, and adds that he hopes all consultation for a long-term caribou strategy should be finished by Christmas.

According to the province, the caribou population has declined in the South Peace region from 800 in the early 2000s to 220 today.

Here’s a map of the temporary moratorium area on new resource development in northeast BC. #Chetwynd #MackenzieBC #TumblerRidgeBC #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/Rbcfxjhp8y

— Colton Davies (@ColtonDavies_) June 20, 2019