New Campaign Aims to Formalize Strong Public Sentiment Against Oil Tanker Traffic On B.C. Coast Into Permanent Official Ban
Vancouver, British Columbia – A new public outreach campaign by ForestEthics is asking residents in Vancouver Quadra and North Vancouver to encourage their local MPs to enforce a permanent tanker ban to protect the North coast and help stop the construction of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. Over 72% of British Columbians already oppose oil tanker traffic on BC's north coast, but many do not realize that there is no permanent ban.
"If tanker traffic is permitted, it's not a question of if an oil spill will occur, but when, where and how large," said Nikki Skuce, Senior Energy Campaigner at ForestEthics. "The time to act is now: the proposed new Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline would carry dirty oil from Alberta's tar sands to Kitimat, where over 200 tankers a year would ply through the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest to Asian markets."
Between January 1999 and July 2009, there were over 1,200 reported shipping related incidents on the coast of BC. As we approach the anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, it's a reminder of how one accident could destroy the coast for generations.
"The Federal government is in a position to protect our fragile coast from catastrophic oil spills, such as the Exxon Valdez, by making the current moratorium on oil tanker traffic permanent on the North coast," added Ms. Skuce. "We are encouraging all parties to take leadership and put in place a permanent ban on oil tankers for BC's north coast."
Canvassers are reaching out to residents in ridings in the Lower Mainland where past elections have been close with materials that read: "What if you could have stopped the Exxon Valdez oil spill?" IThis outreach work is part of a larger initiative to encourage climate action and more investment in a green energy economy federally.
In BC, ForestEthics has launched tarsandsfreecoast.ca, which includes an online petition directed at sitting MPs, including Vancouver Quadra's Joyce Murray and North Vancouver's Andrew Saxton.
