Premier Christy Clark defended appointing East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett to chair a committee looking at cosmetic pesticide use in British Columbia.

"I think the naysayers and the doomsday advocates are going to have to wait and see," said Clark. "I'm confident he has a really balanced view of this. I've talked to him about it extensively, this particular issue."

The Tyee reported earlier this week that Bennett has been appointed to head the special committee on cosmetic pesticides, replacing Margaret MacDiarmid who Clark recently promoted into her cabinet.

Bennett's appointment concerned Wilderness Committee Healthy Communities Campaigner Ben West, who said, "It doesn't fill me with confidence the government is taking this issue seriously." Bennett is on record calling people who wanted a park in the Flathead Valley "eco-fascists" and West said, "I wouldn't characterize Bennett as a friend of the environmental movement."

"I think Bill is going to bring a real balance to the committee and I think you'll be surprised," said Clark, who has said in the past she supports restricting the use of cosmetic pesticides. "He has a balanced view. He brings a real knowledge of the issue from a rural perspective to it."

She added, "You have to see what he delivers on it."

Clark also added former environment minister Barry Penner to the bi-partisan committee, which NDP environment critic Rob Fleming vice-chairs. The committee next meets Oct. 6.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.