News Release - November 19, 2007

VICTORIA - The decision by the province's Auditor General to investigate the release of Tree Farm License lands around Shirley and Jordan River is a victory for everyone who has been fighting to protect the public interest, Opposition MLA John Horgan said today.

Horgan, the Opposition MLA for Malahat - Juan de Fuca, said thousands of British Columbians have been attending meetings and rallies, writing letters and signing petitions to try to convince the Campbell government to reverse their decision to release lands from Tree Farm Licenses on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Today, Auditor General John Doyle announced he will look into the release of 28,000 hectares from TFLs controlled by Western Forest Products.

"This is a huge victory for people who use the land for work and recreation, and for everyone who fought so hard to raise awareness of this issue," said Horgan. "The Forest Minister has repeatedly refused to re-examine his decision to release these lands, so the Auditor General's announcement means we'll be able to see who really benefited when the government ignored the public interest and released those lands.

"No reasonable explanation of how the public interest was served has been forthcoming from the Minister. So far it looks like the only beneficiary has been Western Forest Products, who just happen to be a big donor to the B.C. Liberal Party."

Opposition Leader Carole James - along with the UVic Environmental Law Centre and numerous other groups and individuals - has called on the Auditor General to examine the release of lands from TFLs on Vancouver Island.

"My office has been inundated with calls and emails asking ‘what can I do to stop this deal?'" said Horgan. "By helping keep this issue in the forefront, by speaking out at meetings and in the press, every one of those individuals has helped bring about this investigation."

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