Federal Government Announces National Conservation Plan

Blaine Calkins, MP for Wetaskiwin reviewed the new program from Ottawa that will contribute $252 million to outdoors projects over the next five years.  His announcement put a local spin on the introduction of the plan by PM Harper in New Brunswick last week. 

The plan has three main priorities: conserving Canada’s lands and waters, restoring Canada’s ecosystems and connecting Canadians to nature.  

This is an issue very close to Mr. Calkins since he has worked as a fisheries technician, conservation officer, National Parks warden and a summer fishing guide on Great Bear Lake.  He presently is vice chair of the National Conservation Caucus.

Read more about it here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/stephen-harper-reveals-new-national-conservation-plan-1.2644274

I attended the announcement at the lovely Ponoka Fish & Game facility on Pofianga pond.   They have a three acre fish pond, target range, trap shooting, camping and clubhouse facilities a few miles NW of Ponoka.  The local club members, county government representatives and local radio station were all onside of what should be a very well received program.  There seems to be a growing disconnect between urban and rural Canadians.  As Mr. Calkins stated, “as country folk who gain great pleasure from fishing and hunting, we’ve felt a need to defend our lifestyle, when in fact we should be promoting it.  Our food doesn’t come directly from the supermarket.”  I couldn’t agree more.    

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Richard Pallister is the Director of Thompson-Pallister Bait Co. Ltd. He has been with the company full-time since 1974. "Rick's Retrospect" is a series of blogs where he will share his tips, tricks, opinions and stories.