VICTORIA - The Opposition New Democrats are accusing Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberal government of doing nothing to help clean up wind-ravaged Stanley Park.
The federal government, local Vancouver governments, businesses and Vancouver billionaire Jim Pattison have all offered to help, but the B.C. government has been strangely silent, NDP environment critic Shane Simpson said Thursday.
"It's probably a minimum $4 million to restore the park,'' he said. "The federal government, with the federal environment minister has made a commitment. The private sector has come to the table, with telethons and Jimmy Pattison committing $1 million.
"Of course the city (of Vancouver) and the park board are clearly there, and we've heard absolutely nothing from the provincial government about whether they're prepared to play any role at all in the restoration of the park,'' said Simpson.
Stanley Park is one of the top tourist attractions in British Columbia's largest city and there's been no statement from the provincial government that it will help ensure the park is repaired, he said.
"It's particularly remarkable with the premier, because he's a past mayor of Vancouver,'' said Simpson. "He clearly understands the value of Stanley Park as much or more than anyone, and he's been silent and his ministers have been silent.''
A spokeswoman for the B.C. Environment Ministry said the premier's office was preparing a statement on Stanley Park. She said she couldn't provide details about the statement other than it will be made shortly.
Fierce windstorms, with gusts reaching 100 kilometres an hour in the past 30 days, have toppled more than 3,000 trees in the park.
Landslides and fallen trees have changed the landscape of Stanley Park. The seawall where thousands of people enjoy walks has been damaged and many fallen trees block the forest trails urban residents use to escape the city's urban jungle.
Urban wildlife experts are currently debating what to do about the park: allow Mother Nature to repair the damage itself or take action to make the park safe again for urban dwellers.
