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Ben Parfitt
Ben joined the CCPA staff team as a resource policy analyst in 2005 after years working as an investigative journalist with numerous magazines, and previous to that as a reporter with The Vancouver Sun. He is author and co-author of two books on forestry issues and currently devotes much of his policy research to natural resources, with special attention paid to energy, water, and forest resources and climate change. Ben values being part of a great team at the CCPA as well as the opportunities provided to meet regularly with First Nations, community leaders, environmental advocates and the many people who work in the province’s resource industries and who are committed to progressive change. Ben is an avid cyclist and budding day hiker who likes to take advantage of the many outdoor recreation options open to him and others living in Victoria and south Vancouver Island. He is the proud father of a super-talented daughter, Charlotte Priest, who is wise beyond her years and has taught him much. He also loves to listen to music—the good old fashion way—on vinyl. Follow Ben on Twitter
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As deadline looms, what’s BC government’s plan for 15,000 businesses who will soon be violating provincial water laws?
In just days from now, March 1 to be exact, the BC government is going to find itself in difficult straits. That’s the day that…
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Energy giant Drax’s monopoly of BC’s wood pellet industry must be investigated
The following letter has been sent to Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition, Competition Bureau of Canada. Dear Mr. Boswell, We write today to formally request…
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Water protection must be a top public policy priority
The devastating floods that destroyed homes, farms, highways, dikes and critical infrastructure during November’s record rains are both unprecedented and a climate change wake-up call.…
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Key recommendations to the BC oil and gas royalty review
The oil and gas industry is a marginal player in BC’s overall economy, yet has far-reaching environmental impacts, is inconsistent with global climate action and…
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Submission to BC royalty review
Key recommendations to the BC oil and gas royalty review Download 1.61 MB10 pages The oil and gas industry is a marginal player in BC’s…
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The great tree robbery
As more old-growth trees topple and forest industry jobs plummet, an obscure government subsidy scheme fuels the collapse For more than 15 years, the BC…
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A flood of questions: As southern BC reels from epic flood, former provincial flood official says independent expert needs to investigate
Work at British Columbia’s River Forecast Centre is a little like trench warfare, long stretches of waiting followed by heart-racing action. As a fresh recruit…
Old-growth deferrals and the elephant in the room: we’re out of trees to cut thanks to failed provincial policies
No one should be surprised that the British Columbia government’s decision to potentially defer logging in 26,000 square kilometres of old-growth forest angered many and…
More than intentions needed for BC forests
So, our provincial government “intends” to do something about the sorry state of our forests and forest industry. It intends to protect more old-growth forests.…
Ottawa’s fixation with trees and climate: What exactly are we planting?
By two significant measures, last year’s effort to plant 300 million tree seedlings in Canada’s most forest-rich province was a remarkable achievement. Not only was…
Priming the pump
Scientist warns cumulative effect of thousands of fracked gas wells means powerful earthquakes ahead for northeast BC Massive amounts of water pumped with brute force…
Out of water?
As deadline looms, thousands of BC groundwater users risk losing access to water, but not most water bottling, fracking and mining companies In February 2018,…