Approximately 60 Comox Valley activists participated in a provincewide day of action, calling on the provincial government to make good on its word regarding old-growth protection.

The local rally started at the courthouse, before making its way to Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard鈥檚 office.

Leonard had been invited to speak to the rally, but was in a meeting when the rally arrived at her office. A representative from Leonard鈥檚 office accepted a letter presented by the group, to be forwarded to Minister of Forests, Bruce Ralston.

Activists waves signs to passing motorists, receiving honks of encouragement from several drivers.

Similar protests were held outside 17 MLA offices throughout the province.

Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said the province created a silviculture program that鈥檚 implementing more alternatives to clear-cutting as B.C. shares the desire to protect old-growth forests.

The province has taken steps to shift from industry-developed stewardship plans as Ralston said they鈥檙e prioritizing ecosystem health and community resiliency by supporting co-governance of the land with First Nations.

鈥淚n the past year, we have reached 2.25 million hectares of old growth deferred or protected since November 2021, with work on further deferrals underway with rights and title holders,鈥� he said in a statement.

鈥淏y taking action now and building generational change, we can protect the most at-risk old-growth forests around the province while we move to new ways to manage B.C. forests.鈥�