An interview on Radio Canada International on the pastures

image by Branimir Gjetvaj (branimirphoto.ca)

Lots of media this week.

1. Radio Canada International has posted a ten minute interview with me recorded last week. Click on the "Listen" icon to hear it and read the print story on this web page.

2. Andrea Hill, a sharp young PostMedia journalist spoke to me, Joe Schmutz from the University of Saskatchewan, and Ian McCreary of the Community Pastures Patrons Association, summarizing the story in this article published in the Vancouver Sun and elsewhere.

3. This week, Andrea followed with a story giving a First Nations perspective on the pastures issue--something that we all tend to forget. All of us need to do a better job of bringing the First Nations and Metis interests into the discussion of what should happen to these ecologically invaluable grasslands.

Community pastures make Question Period

During Question Period in Parliament last week, Edmonton M.P. Linda Duncan rose to ask a question of the Environment Minster, Leona Aglukkaq.

Here it is:

"Saskatchewan community pastures delivered a model partnership for over 80 years, sustaining small ranches and critical habitat for threatened species. Incredulously, the Conservative government responded by shutting them down. Farmers, conservationists, ranches and communities are demanding the government act to save the key pastures.

Will the Minister of the Environment commit today to intervene and establish a national wildlife area as a model for sustainable farming and wildlife protection?"

Click on the embedded Youtube at the top of this post to see the video of the question from MP Linda Duncan and the response from federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq.