CAMPBELL RIVER – New Democrat MLA for North Island Michele Babchuk says the next round of the B.C. NDP Government’s Clean Coast, Clean Waters (CCCW) initiative will clean up even more coastline along the North Island and Discovery Islands thanks to community partnerships.
“People across all of our beautiful coasts have really stepped up to tackle shoreline debris, and it’s so inspiring to see,” said MLA Babchuk. “Together, we’ve already removed more than 550 tonnes of waste, much of which is being recycled here in B.C. These are jobs that bring people together to do something impactful, and I’m thrilled to see that work continuing in our region.”
Spirits of the West Adventures is receiving $563,000 for a cleanup project focusing on the Discovery Islands, working with the Homalco First Nation to clean 200 to 400 kilometres of shoreline and supporting 33 jobs.
The Campbell River Association of Tour Operators is receiving $767,000 to clean up roughly 350 kilometres of shoreline near Comox, Courtney and Campbell River. They will do this in partnership with the K’omoks First Nation and create an estimated 61 jobs.
These projects are in addition to a $2.3 million cleanup project around Haida Gwaii, totalling $3.6 million in this round of funding. This increases the total number of projects to date under the CCCW initiative to nine with a total investment of nearly $18 million. The CCCW initiative is an important part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan and its goal to address plastic pollution.
The initiative is also part of B.C.’s $10-billion COVID-19 response, which includes StrongerBC: B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan to protect people’s health and livelihoods, while supporting businesses and communities.
Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021ENV0050-001541