Here’s what a Vernon man said to Christy Clark about invasive mussels
“IS B.C. NOT WORTH IT TO YOU?”
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A frustrated Vernon man has sent an open letter to Premier Christy Clark about invasive mussels, and he didn’t hold back.
Brynne Morrice, a filmmaker who recently debuted a short documentary about the imminent threat of zebra and quagga mussels, is calling on the province to protect B.C.’s waters.
Here, in his own words, is his message to Clark:
Dear Madame Premier,
My name is Brynne Morrice. I’m a B.C.-based filmmaker, born and raised here. I love our province deeply. I love our people, I love our culture, and most of all I love the unparalleled natural beauty that defines our province.
Last summer, I learned of the imminent threat that zebra and quagga mussels pose to our province. While I sat with my family on an idyllic B.C. beach next to a sparkling lake filled with people swimming, boating, and fishing, I realized that everything in front of me would be destroyed if the mussels got into B.C.. I had to do something, so I decided to make a short film. At the time, I assumed that the government of B.C. must simply be unaware of this threat, or at least unaware of its magnitude. I hoped that my film would help change this.
You can watch the 5-minute film at www.protectourfreshwater.ca.
I know now that your government IS aware. However, for some reason, you have dedicated a mere 1.3 million dollars, spread out over 3 years, to combat a problem that has cost over 6 billion dollars in North America so far and has been a tragedy for every community that has faced it.
Your current action plan is entitled, “Early Detection and Rapid Response.” This is based on a glaring falsehood. In 25 years, in hundreds of lakes and rivers across North America, it has been proven again and again that ERADICATION DOES NOT EXIST. Zebra and quagga mussels, once in a lake or river, cannot be stopped. Since this in an established, well-known fact, let me ask you this: What exactly are you planning to rapidly respond with?
Prevention is the only option. Period. The only way to protect our province is to stop and inspect EVERY SINGLE BOAT that crosses our borders. If you miss even ONE BOAT, that could be the boat that causes a catastrophe in our province.
You said on CTV news that with your current preventative program of 3 roving inspection teams, you are “watching to see what works.” Let me point out what should be obvious. If any part of your program doesn’t “work,” the result will be the infestation and subsequent destruction of our lakes and rivers. Putting out a half-hearted “test” program is not a luxury that British Columbians can afford. Failure is simply not an option. The only thing that will “work” is 100% border protection. Everyday that you resist doing what is necessary and right, you gamble with the future of every community in B.C.
You have said that you are working with other provinces and states to alert you if a contaminated boat is incoming. So you are outsourcing the protection of B.C. to outside jurisdictions who have their own lakes and rivers to worry about? Wouldn’t it make sense, considering what is at stake, to work with them AND have mandatory, permanent inspection stations at our borders – the same as what Alberta and several other jurisdictions have?
You have said you will continue to review the program and see if more action is needed. Time is not a luxury we have. Anytime this summer or next, a boat could easily slip past your very weak border defense and launch in our waters. Then, your only option will be to sit back and watch as the mussels inevitably spread to every lake and river in B.C.. The freshwater ecosystems of our province will be turned upside down. The salmon, trout, and kokanee will all but disappear. Our beaches, riverbeds, and lake floors will be a carpet of razor-sharp shells. As the mussels invade our drinking-water systems, agricultural irrigation systems, fire-suppression systems, and hydroelectric dams, every B.C. resident will face steep increases in taxes and bills. Perhaps worst of all, our lakes and rivers, central to our identity and way-of-life, will become unrecognizable. The damage will be permanent.
You have the power and the resources to prevent this. The people of B.C. are calling for action. This is an emergency and should be treated as such. Why do you delay? Why are you not doing the absolute maximum to protect our province?
Is B.C. not worth it to you?
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To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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50 responses
This is very scary. Lets see the border people on TV tackling this and a zero tolerance with full inspection /enforcement regardless of cost and set up today, Also, let us hear today what Christy Clarke is doing re: invasion that is not reversable.On the daily and national news for sure.
Because the international waterways and shipping falls under the responsibility of the Federal Government maybe we should be ragging at them to finally do something about ensuring boats that plan to enter our country are inspected and ensure these boats empty their ballast waters – which is one of the more common ways foreign microbes enter our system.and while they are at it – not foreign plants, etc.
thank you for your film, letter and bringing awareness to this most time sensitive issue.
Not to be rude, but I think you’re missing the point. Once they’re here, you cannot get rid of them; there is no “control” to be done. So yes, feeding them to people less fortunate is a really nice idea, but it would not help prevent the infestation or subsequent damage in any way.
Christy has smiled and bullshitted her way in to a life of leisure. Can’t depend on her for anything but more rethoric and smiles. This is a serious dilemma . It doesn’t look good. It would mean literally poisoning off all our lakes and trying to start over
well done Brynne.
If these mussels are edible, harvest them for free to feed the hungry or sell for charity. I am just saying this as an optional control of the species while the poloticians are still debating in their office.
Wake up Christy Clark! “Take the necessary steps to keep our lakes and rivers serene and free of this invasive mussels!” “At whatever cost” We can’t afford the price we will pay for the destruction of this invasive contaminate from destroying our beautiful, “British Columbia!”
Well said, Brynne Morrice. What politician would want this devastating catastrophe to occur on their watch? What kind of legacy would that leave in our history books? The action to prevent this need to take place now!
Years ago there was the milfoil that was threatening our lakes here in BC ..our polititions then dropped the ball on it. Look what we have now ….then the pine beetle ball got dropped ….now it’s mussels …..guess they will be dropping the ball again .For a bunch of polititions with NO BALLS …they sure seem to drop them a lot .Wake up people ! Before it’s too late .
Let us all put the pressure on, regardless of political leaning.I would trust common sense and sincere respect for our treasured water systems will prevail.It is common ground we can all walk upon…I hope.Fuck!I am sounding way too passive.Crusty Cluck, DO SOMETHING RESPONSIBLE, JUST ONCE DURING YOUR REIGN AS QUEEN AND DICTATOR!
Our taxes paid for her education James, not the government. You may want to learn such things before you comment about other peoples ignorance. And FYI, she has hit the nail on the head about our political leaders!
This is very scary for a small town like Osoyoos, that tourism heavily depends on the attraction of the warm beautiful lake in summer. Unfortunately the larvae of this mussel is invisible to the naked eye, and can survive in bilge of boat, in other wet areas of boat, in wetsuits and floaty toys if stored away wet,and even in the shag carpet people have attached on the supports on their boat trailer. There needs to be more boat launch locks and attendants only letting people in the lake if they have an inspection tag.
Pat Mattice and I do like the way they handle and limit immigration. Our door is open to all kinds and that is why we are having gangs creeping into all our communities and some places are causing good citizens to move away for safety.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/no-rats-no-molluscs-boat-infested-with-invasive-mussels-intercepted-before-hitting-alberta-lake#__federated=1
like giving the management of Seaweed harvest along our beaches to the min. of agriculture? which is decimating our beaches of any living invertebrates resulting in the disappearance of almost ALL Seagulls and SeaBirds along the Salish Sea…
Matthew Hicks well stated :) anything is possible when the people start waking up! things are changing for the better it seems! hope still hanging on!
they are very strict in those countries and in so being keep the countries free of unwanted pests we could and should do the same.
OMG. I had no idea about this problem and YES, something has to be now NOW!
The NDP never ruined BC. & Manitoba’s economy is booming right now. They left a huge surplus which G. Campbell lied to the public about. “So great was the fiscal windfall that British Columbia was able to make what was then the largest-ever reduction to the public debt”. Here is the article…. http://m.thetyee.ca/Views/2005/04/20/CampbellMisledPublic/
Pls provide backup of your statement concerning the NDP “hurting more as their past record shows”. I’d like to see a link because I have links that prove the exact opposite. Mr. Mulcair was Environment Minister for many years with an exceptional record.
This Is important!
When the government is unwilling or unable to act….out of ignorance or fear, then concerned citizens must ask themselves: must we stand by and watch what we hold dear ruined?A ban preventing ALL ‘recreational’ boats from entering BC must be put in place until we have the necessary resources to inspect them properly.Will vigilante action be required?Maybe we should fine the Liberals a few million $ for every day they drag their heels over this issue.Then inspectors’ wages could be paid and all boats would be inspected.
Terrible. :-(
Start a petition, if you haven’t yet.
We from the Eastshore Freshwater Habitat Society are fighting with educational signs on highways. you might as well kiss this Kootenay Lake good bye if they get in here. How dare this government stand by and watch this happen.Just wait until mussels are in the Okanogan. You will have a California North. Watch your power bill go up 10 fold because of these mussels clogging the power stations and the cost to clear them out. Does not matter who is in government they will have to deal with this and BC will have the highest tax rate in the world thanks to our governments lack of concern for our Freshwater and livelihood.
Once again, I agree. But one has to look at the viability of accomplishing that, 24/7all 365 on every cross province road way. I’m thinking more and more awareness. Signage on major hiways, at provincial boat ramps, resorts, fuel stations. Create enough awareness so the locals begin protecting they’re own water ways.
Of course a sociopath investor would use hyperbolic rhetoric about a political party that doesn’t support his capitalist agenda.
All it takes is one mussel.
Education and occasional road side checks are not enough. The ‘new measures’ lauded by the Minister are a road map to failure. Boat inspections must be mandatory for every boat entering BC, there must be meaningful fines for non-compliance, and there must be inspectors on the ground to ensure enforcement. This is how Alberta stopped an infected boat from entering Sylvan Lake on the May long weekend. BC isn’t doing enough. I’m one of the folks who did ‘study up’.
Christy Clark don’t give a rats ass about us or BC shes making the big bucks and that’s all that BITCH cares about. Ya I called you a BITCH what you going to do about it.
Christy Clark should do something for once in her life.THIS IS IT.
Do you not get this ‘Christy’?
Crisrycoldnt care less about anything. She has done her time has a place in or.owna and can pull a full pension for the rest of her life. She just sits a smiles. Don’t count on her or any other political person they all lie full face. We the people have to do the change. See an issue fix your self why cause it’s up to us. The govermnet is a joke!
Is Krusty Clark not an invasive specie also?
Put a line with Buoy half a mile long with some line in the water 40 feet long 20 foot intervals see how many muscles you collect if you collect that you’ll be able to
Do you have a link? Sounds interesting.
DO SOMETHING FOR REAL, CHRISTY CLARK!
I watched a documentary from Australia and New Zealand about how stringent they are on examining every cargo ship and every container as well as every piece of equipment that comes into these countries.
I think all Christy clark, s concerns are the natural gas in bc not our eviroment outlook, we as workers and tax payers are taxed to death as it is, so save our beautiful province of british Columbia for our future children, children to injoy as the pronince promotes tourism will do so keep it beautiful for all.
I agree whole heartedly with mandatory border inspections. But what about provincial borders? How do we police that?
yes it is a big problem I no my mothers lake frontage on 14 island lake 18 miles north of KingstonOntario has a majority of mussels in the lake due the the USA cottagers on the lake, not putting down our USA neighbours, but its a problem their, i just hope the province there see, s the damages caused by these things ans fixes up this problem too.
Christy Clark, we need permanent, mandatory inspections of every watercraft that can bring this invasion into our water.We need it immediately before it can cause massive destruction.Please do what is very obviously necessaryto deal with this immediately!
NOT LIKELY! will there ever be an NDP in BC.
voted for you and ceasYOU are our voice ms. clark pls deduct 10% off your fat cat team of cronies expenses each month and infuse these funds to help this dire problem we are facing!
This is all too familiar.Look what happened with Pine Beetle!
Pay attention BC……we are sure to have this issue in the near future if we don’t pay attention. As an avid angler with grand children involved in the sport I do not want to see the destruction of our relatively pristine waters.
Unfortunately, Christy Clark is not all that brightand will no doubt mess this up.
This is one important issue! Take heed Christy Clark and do something good for BC.
I see an NPD sweep in BC for the NEXT election, but will it be too late for many, many environmental and social crises!