Canada's new environment minister paid a visit to wind- ravaged Stanley Park yesterday and said the devastation should serve as a "wake-up call."
John Baird chose to make Vancouver his first official stop since being appointed environment minister last week because he "just had to see the devastation first-hand."
"This just looks like an environmental war zone," said Baird as he walked along hundreds of fallen trees at Prospect Point, the area hit hardest by December's wind storms.
Earlier, during a media scrum with Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and other politicians, Baird told media B.C.'s extreme winter weather drove home the reality of climate change.
"When you see these types of weather phenomena, climate change becomes a huge concern," said the minister, who replaced the embattled Rona Ambrose. "I think this is certainly a wake-up call."
Both Baird and natural resources minister Gary Lunn pledged their support to the Stanley Park clean-up effort but didn't explain how the federal government intended to help.
Baird was equally reluctant to divulge any specifics into how the Conservatives were going to clean-up the environment.
"This is a problem that demands a solution," he offered.
"The message has been received loud and clear that the environment is a priority. We're all concerned about the freak weather in this country."
A lone protester, 66-year-old Ann Grant, made her way to the conference - park staff blocked the roads leading into Prospect Point so only media could enter - to plead with the government to respect the Kyoto Accord.
"They're not doing enough," said Grant, sporting a horned Stephen Harper mask and a pitchfork with Planet Earth impaled on its tip. "More extreme weather is likely to be caused by global warning if we keep ignoring it. It's already happening."
He won't divulge any details as there are none. He sure is an evasive one when asked anything.
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