New Democrats Urge Protection Of Island Honey Bees
VICTORIA— Tomorrow is the day of the honey bee, and Lana Popham , New Democrat agriculture critic, is urging the B.C. Liberal government to celebrate the occasion by working with Vancouver Island beekeepers to address concerns they have about the potential for diseases to spread via used equipment and honeycomb imported to the island.
Lana Popham
“Beekeepers across the island are deeply concerned about the B.C. Liberal government’s decision to lift restrictions on the importation of used equipment and honeycomb to the island without consultation,” said Popham. “The agriculture minister refuses to show beekeepers any evidence that he or his ministry staff did due diligence before making this decision.”
The importation of used equipment and honeycomb from the mainland to Vancouver Island has been restricted for more than 20 years in order to protect island bees from disease and pests. Island beekeepers are worried that the B.C. Liberal government’s sudden move to lift the restrictions will result in the widespread infection of island bee colonies with diseases and pests otherwise not found here.
“Three out of every four bites of food we eat depends on bees and other pollinators. A world without bees would be a world without strawberries and tomatoes,” said Popham. “That’s why we need the B.C. Liberal government to work with beekeepers to keep our island bees free from disease.”
Popham says tomorrow, May 29, which the province has declared the “day of the honey bee” would be a perfect opportunity for the B.C. Liberals to do the right thing and put a hold on the importation of used equipment and honeycomb from the mainland until island beekeepers are satisfied that it can be done without putting island honey bees at increased risk of disease.
“We have an amazing and dedicated community of beekeepers on the island,” said Popham. “It’s possible to get honey produced in almost every neighbourhood –from Oak Bay to James Bay and from Saanich to Sidney. Beekeepers and blooms go hand in hand. I hope the government will take this opportunity to do the right thing and listen to our local bee experts before it is too late.”
Carole James and New Democrats are committed to supporting local agriculture by reinstating Buy B.C. and ensuring all British Columbians have the right to buy food directly from farmers.
