Mr. Speaker, on behalf of many constituents in Saanich—Gulf Islands, it is an honour to rise to present a petition dealing with the intersecting issues of the importance of old-growth forests for biodiversity, for climate action and indeed for their integral role in the traditional, cultural and spiritual wisdom of the indigenous peoples of this area, as well as looking at the threat to old-growth forests specifically on Vancouver Island. The last unprotected, intact old-growth valley on southern Vancouver Island is slated for logging.
Petitioners call on the government to work with the provinces and first nations to halt all logging of endangered old-growth ecosystems and for long-term protection of old-growth forests as well as to support value-added initiatives, such as banning the export of raw logs to ensure that sustainable production in local saw log operations can continue.