we learned some unsettling information about the board of the Npca...
so we decided to send an open letter
When setting up For Our Kids Niagara we came across some unsettling information about our local conservation authority, the NPCA. This is the governing body that is in place to help conserve our natural resources. The board makes decisions on policy that directly relate to, for example, how many trees we cut down to build new homes. Or how close those homes are to waterways. They have a lot of power to make a difference to our climate crisis. That's why we have written a letter about what we discovered.
Here is the open letter sent January 6th, 2020 from us to the board of the NPCA.
Dear NPCA board members,
On September 27th, 2019 you shared a live video statement on your FB page. You stated clearly in this video that you supported the climate strike action around the world, and informed us that you have declared a state of emergency in response to the crisis.
We at For Our Kids Niagara want to tell you that saying these words is NOT ENOUGH. In fact, we are deeply disappointed by the lack of action the NPCA has taken in the last year. During the preceeding corruption from the last board, it is a fact that many environmental protections in Niagara were systematically dismantled. What is being done to ensure this damage is now reversed? When watching video of your recent meetings it becomes clear that there is no drive to respond to this state of emergency with any real action. There is a lot of discussion over how you don't have the time, or the resources, or the staff. How you can wait for provincial direction, whenever that may come.
We are also shocked to discover that the current chair of the NPCA, Mr Dave Bylsma, is the National President of another organization, the CHP. This group states very clearly on their website that man made climate change is a hoax. We would like to ask Mr Bylsma to resign his position with CHP and state categorically, on the record, that he believes in the science behind man made climate change. If he will not, then we call for his immediate dismissal from the NPCA board.
We believe it is inappropriate to select someone who does not believe in the science of climate change to be a member of the board of the NPCA. It is even more worrying to us that this man became the chair and seems likely to remain in that position. How many more of you on the board are actively denying the science which is accepted around the world? This is an outrageous position for anyone involved in environmental conservation. At your upcoming AGM on January 15th we will be watching closely. We would like to ask the board, in the interests of transparency, to make this an open vote. We would like any board member who votes to keep Mr Bylsma as chair visible for public record.
Niagara has been subject to some of the worst corruption in recent years and we demand that the current NPCA board members be held to a higher standard. We have less than 10 years to make the changes we need to avoid a mass extinction event. Let's say it again for you: WE HAVE LESS THAN 10 YEARS. Our kids need a FUTURE. Your kids need a future. You need to stop treating this as an exercise in beaurocracy and actually take action.
The NPCA is a taxpayer funded institution. You work for us. And you are failing us. You are failing our kids. You have the power in your hands to make a difference. Please use it before time runs out for us all.
Signed,
For Our Kids Niagara
Www.forourkidsniagara.ca
Sources:
*watch the December NPCA board meeting here https://youtu.be/cZwJtrQZGWA
*see the Christian heritage party website with Mr. Bylsma listed as the national president here: https://www.chp.ca/about/team/
*look at the Christian heritage party's platform page on climate change here: https://www.chp.ca/platform/category/environment
* the ipcc summary report for policy makers can be found here:
https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/
Here is the open letter sent January 6th, 2020 from us to the board of the NPCA.
Dear NPCA board members,
On September 27th, 2019 you shared a live video statement on your FB page. You stated clearly in this video that you supported the climate strike action around the world, and informed us that you have declared a state of emergency in response to the crisis.
We at For Our Kids Niagara want to tell you that saying these words is NOT ENOUGH. In fact, we are deeply disappointed by the lack of action the NPCA has taken in the last year. During the preceeding corruption from the last board, it is a fact that many environmental protections in Niagara were systematically dismantled. What is being done to ensure this damage is now reversed? When watching video of your recent meetings it becomes clear that there is no drive to respond to this state of emergency with any real action. There is a lot of discussion over how you don't have the time, or the resources, or the staff. How you can wait for provincial direction, whenever that may come.
We are also shocked to discover that the current chair of the NPCA, Mr Dave Bylsma, is the National President of another organization, the CHP. This group states very clearly on their website that man made climate change is a hoax. We would like to ask Mr Bylsma to resign his position with CHP and state categorically, on the record, that he believes in the science behind man made climate change. If he will not, then we call for his immediate dismissal from the NPCA board.
We believe it is inappropriate to select someone who does not believe in the science of climate change to be a member of the board of the NPCA. It is even more worrying to us that this man became the chair and seems likely to remain in that position. How many more of you on the board are actively denying the science which is accepted around the world? This is an outrageous position for anyone involved in environmental conservation. At your upcoming AGM on January 15th we will be watching closely. We would like to ask the board, in the interests of transparency, to make this an open vote. We would like any board member who votes to keep Mr Bylsma as chair visible for public record.
Niagara has been subject to some of the worst corruption in recent years and we demand that the current NPCA board members be held to a higher standard. We have less than 10 years to make the changes we need to avoid a mass extinction event. Let's say it again for you: WE HAVE LESS THAN 10 YEARS. Our kids need a FUTURE. Your kids need a future. You need to stop treating this as an exercise in beaurocracy and actually take action.
The NPCA is a taxpayer funded institution. You work for us. And you are failing us. You are failing our kids. You have the power in your hands to make a difference. Please use it before time runs out for us all.
Signed,
For Our Kids Niagara
Www.forourkidsniagara.ca
Sources:
*watch the December NPCA board meeting here https://youtu.be/cZwJtrQZGWA
*see the Christian heritage party website with Mr. Bylsma listed as the national president here: https://www.chp.ca/about/team/
*look at the Christian heritage party's platform page on climate change here: https://www.chp.ca/platform/category/environment
* the ipcc summary report for policy makers can be found here:
https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/spm/
We received a reply from the NPCA on January 9th.
We sent this reply on January 11th to Renee Bisson
Dear Renee,
Thank you for replying to our letter and addressing some of our concerns. I took some time today to read over the post you directed me to on your website, which I see was added January 9th. I have a few questions about your response and this post that I hope you can clarify.
- Regarding your comments on the provincial cuts to floodplain management, how much, in actual numbers, was this cut? I would like to have a clear idea of just how much money this represents for the NPCA. It being the first point you mention I am assuming this must be a major obstacle to your ability to respond to the state of emergency.
- This "strategic plan" which will be developing action measures to adapt to climate change. What stage is this strategic plan at? Who is heading up the project? And do you have a specific target date when it will be completed?
- On your climate change post it states that you are purchasing unique and pristine lands to preserve them for conservation. This seems to me to be one of the most effective ways to mitigate climate change. Can you tell me what lands have been secured in the last year? And what areas you are considering for purchase?
- A bullet point from your posted action plan is "strengthening planning and permitting functions. " Can you clarify? Which functions? What exactly are you strengthening? Will permits be harder to get for land development?
Finally, let me address the "elephant in the room" which you did not take the time to reply to. What is your response to our concerns about having Dave Bylsma as chair? Over the last few days he has publicly expressed opinions that have no place in the accepted scientific community. Do you really think that his personal beliefs are not a conflict of interest for his role at the NPCA?
In doing some further digging into the public information available on your website, it states clearly that the motion to declare a climate emergency was passed on July 17th. Why was this not announced until September 27? In fact, when watching the video of the July meeting I was shocked to discover the result of this declaration was sent to the "public advisory committee", one of the least qualified committees to take it on (3:39:15). Not only that, but Mr Bylsma managed to make sure that he himself is the only board representative on this committee (3:44:45). Forgive my bluntness, but that stinks of his personal agenda on climate change. Once this emergency declaration was shunted to this committee, it seems to vanish completely. Nothing further seems to come up in future meetings about your "state of emergency".
I will repeat what I said in my original open letter. We need you to act now. We are out of time. This is an emergency. Please treat it as such. And any board member who does not believe in the science of climate change is not going to treat this issue with the urgency it deserves.
Sincerely,
Diane Archer
For Our Kids Niagara
Source:
July meeting video link: https://youtu.be/t_eKZKOdJkk
We were tired of waiting for a response so we sent this on January 14th:
Dear NPCA Board Members,
CC Renee Bisson
We have been awaiting your response to our last letter. While we understand that a complete response to our concerns was unlikely, your lack of response is a bit worrying. You told us that you “value and appreciate our interest in conservation.”
These are hollow words.
Not only did you avoid addressing the real issue about Dave Bylsma, you had clearly scrambled to create a climate action plan for your website that day. That showed us that our concerns were valid beyond what we had ever imagined.
We replied on Saturday for more information, and you did not answer.
Now it seems, according to the St Catharines Standard article released January 13th, only 57% of the Board claims to believe in climate change; 52% believes that climate change is human-influenced; and only 29% believes the Chair of the NPCA should accept the peer-reviewed science. These are staggering numbers.
We can tell you that 97.1% of scientific studies support the science behind man made climate change. The remaining 2.9% are the equivalent of "flat earthers" in modern times.
If Brad Clark is the only board member who sees that this is going to negatively affect the reputation of the NPCA, then the rest of you need a wake up call.
We ask that you announce to the public who has put their name forward for the position of chair on Wednesday.
And we request transparency for the voting process.
It’s time to start finding a way to be taken seriously as a conservation agency. The NPCA has the potential to do its part in conserving remaining wetlands and forests and begin to repair some of the damage we’ve inherited.
Please do it.
For your kids. For your grandkids.
Sincerely
Diane Archer
For Our Kids Niagara
www.forourkidsniagara.ca
Sources:
https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/9806953-npca-s-bylsma-faces-challenge-over-climate-change-beliefs/
https://www.iflscience.com/environment/atmosphere-scientist-slams-climate-change-deniers-in-brilliant-viral-post/
ReplyForward
CC Renee Bisson
We have been awaiting your response to our last letter. While we understand that a complete response to our concerns was unlikely, your lack of response is a bit worrying. You told us that you “value and appreciate our interest in conservation.”
These are hollow words.
Not only did you avoid addressing the real issue about Dave Bylsma, you had clearly scrambled to create a climate action plan for your website that day. That showed us that our concerns were valid beyond what we had ever imagined.
We replied on Saturday for more information, and you did not answer.
Now it seems, according to the St Catharines Standard article released January 13th, only 57% of the Board claims to believe in climate change; 52% believes that climate change is human-influenced; and only 29% believes the Chair of the NPCA should accept the peer-reviewed science. These are staggering numbers.
We can tell you that 97.1% of scientific studies support the science behind man made climate change. The remaining 2.9% are the equivalent of "flat earthers" in modern times.
If Brad Clark is the only board member who sees that this is going to negatively affect the reputation of the NPCA, then the rest of you need a wake up call.
We ask that you announce to the public who has put their name forward for the position of chair on Wednesday.
And we request transparency for the voting process.
It’s time to start finding a way to be taken seriously as a conservation agency. The NPCA has the potential to do its part in conserving remaining wetlands and forests and begin to repair some of the damage we’ve inherited.
Please do it.
For your kids. For your grandkids.
Sincerely
Diane Archer
For Our Kids Niagara
www.forourkidsniagara.ca
Sources:
https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/9806953-npca-s-bylsma-faces-challenge-over-climate-change-beliefs/
https://www.iflscience.com/environment/atmosphere-scientist-slams-climate-change-deniers-in-brilliant-viral-post/
ReplyForward
To get on our mailing list to hear about further action we are taking, please sign up below:
