How the Province of BC failed Tex

Ministers Randene Neill & Tamara Davidson:

People of BC and many world wide viewers were desperately hoping the Province of BC would protect and save Tex. They were counting on you both to save this young grizzly bear but you both failed Tex miserably.

There was colossal foot dragging by you both, along with your ministry staff. You need to understand that these are very fluid situations that require prompt attention and action. Randene, your childish comment that you did not think anyone would shoot Tex clearly demonstrates your complete lack of understanding of the danger these animals face from hunters who hate predators.

Tamara, as a Haida FN, your elders would have taught you that the bear is our teacher. So what was Tex trying to teach us or show us? He was telling us he was struggling as a young grizzly bear to find a permanent home range because of the many human settlements he encountered and the human destruction of his habitat. All Tex was asking was to show him tolerance and understanding while he achieved his goal. But instead of compassion and understanding prevailing in the management of this grizzly bear, yours and Randene’s lack of leadership and decisiveness allowed human hatred to prevail.

Presently, the people of BC concerned about their wildlife, have zero confidence in either of you to protect our wildlife. There will be another tragedy like Tex unless you both clean house and manage our wildlife from a compassionate conservation perspective rather than the very pervasive hateful attitude of hunters which there are many in each of your ministries. As leaders of your ministries, you need to promote and view each animal as a sentient being that has intrinsic value. These are the values and beliefs of the Indigenous guardians and stewards who were advocating and working for Tex’s relocation.

If you both are not prepared to radically change from a hateful hunter attitude to an attitude of compassionate conservation in managing your respective ministries and ministry staff, then you both need to resign immediately.

Gary R. Allan, JD
President, Tundra Speaks Society
SWELL Wolf Education Centre
Tundraspeaks.com