Re: 鈥淏oater no-go zones, salmon closures aim to protect orcas,鈥� May 11.
Congratulations to the federal government for stepping up to the complicated but extensive plan to try to save our southern resident orcas. It鈥檚 a lot of money; not everyone is OK with the fishing restrictions, but here we go.
The state of Washington, under the leadership of Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, committed $1.1 billion US to orca recovery, a detailed response that involves much that the state government can adjudicate, including permits for what happens on shore and banning certain chemicals. It also includes safe lanes that will avoid the orcas and many other items.
By the way, which whales are theirs, which are ours, which are the U.S. government鈥檚, which are Canada鈥檚? Those orcas don鈥檛 care about our borders. Perhaps both sides of the U.S.-Canada border should.
Meanwhile, what is the B.C. government doing? Some hearings that included sport fishermen and tourist industries that might be affected by what the provincial government might do. The B.C. government has OK鈥檇 Site C, they鈥檙e apparently OK with more large cruise ships coming into Victoria and more B.C. ferries, but sorry, can鈥檛 do much about the noise right now. And for sure, no Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
This is leadership? It takes guts to say: You can do this, you can鈥檛 do this. But, as important, where is the B.C. plan?
Virginia Watson-Rouslin
North Saanich
