Dear Minister Ravi Parmar:
I am writing to you in reference to your recent Minister’s Statement regarding photos of tree spiking claimed to be of Fairy Creek, submitted to you anonymously and without verification. I understand from the reporter who subsequently interviewed me that the purported sender was “Friends of Fairy Creek.”
My name is Kathy Code and I am a Fairy Creek Forest Defender. I was responsible for establishing the legal team to address the injunction. I found the lawyers, found the money and did a lot of the original research regarding TFL #46 around the Forest Management Plan, the government’s Forest Revenue Sharing Agreement with the Pacheedaht, and the Agreement-in-Principle, the precursor to Step 6 of the Treaty process. I also wrote a lot of communications, including Briefing Notes and Media Releases, designed to let government and the public know who we are and what we stand for. I am dedicated to peaceful protest and all these activities are protected by the Charter of Rights.
Thus, I was dismayed to read your statement. Not only are you giving public voice to unsubstantiated claims from an unknown sender, but the weight of your office gives some credence to the underlying accusations.
First, I personally know the folks of the Friends of Fairy Creek Society. They are all good honourable people and dedicated to supporting the Fairy Creek community and our dwindling old-growth forest in the ways they know best. They did not send the photos.
Second, I will take this opportunity to join you in soundly condemning tree spiking. It is a despicable practice and I can assure you that as peaceful protestors working to protect old-growth forest, the Fairy Creek Forest Defenders would never seek to harm trees, let alone people. Such an act is against our Code of Conduct and would result in the loss of the widespread public support we value and enjoy. We have never wavered in our stance against this vile behaviour.
Third, as mentioned before, I am dismayed that you would lend the weight of your office to a story that is completely unverified and unauthenticated. As a long-time government communications practitioner myself, I know that no minister I ever worked for would have linked their name, their office and the government to such an unsubstantiated claim.
Fourth, all through the Fairy Creek protest (the largest mass civil disobedience movement in Canadian history), government always claimed to hold an arm’s length distance from law enforcement, that it was not their role to direct police in how and against whom they conducted their duties. This is how government sought to distance itself from the numerous and questionable behaviours exhibited by the CIRG.
On behalf of the citizens of British Columbia, can you please tell me if the NDP government has now changed its standards and procedures in how they support law enforcement? Will you be supporting other RCMP investigations?
I ask on behalf of the citizens of BC that you withdraw your statement as a means of maintaining the dignity of your office.
I welcome any comments or questions you may have.
Kathy Code
Cobble Hill
