Local environment organizations rarely poke their head above the wall anymore. Many hard working people are appointed to the Alberta government’s infamous multi-stakeholder committees. They’re so busy working on the inside, for whatever change they can get, they rarely talk to the public.
How well does it work? Well, ask the Alberta Wilderness Association. The AWA decided to go back to the public after its five-year fight to save the declining grizzly population met the usual lukewarm response from the Alberta government. Sustainable Resources Minister Ted Morton couldn’t find one new dollar to help save the grizzlies. So AWA decided “we unfortunately conclude the only way to get the government to act on conservation is to engage Albertans on this issue.”
Actually, engaging Albertans is a really great idea, not unfortunate.
Read the article here: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/opinion/story.html?id=cfa4a0d1-c63a-4338-b746-1a8880f86d19&k=14769