For immediate release:
Campbell off-side with 80% of British Columbians in bid to support big oil in last days as Premier.
Wilderness Tourism Association, Friends of Wild Salmon, Forest Ethics, West Coast Environmental Law Association, Dogwood Initiative, Living Oceans Society
VANCOUVER – An array of community and environmental groups, and business and fishing interests are expressing shock and disappointment with outgoing Premier Gordon Campbell’s decision to go against the wishes of the majority of British Columbians and side with the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan in asking the Prime Minister to defeat a bill that would permanently ban oil tankers through BC’s Pacific North Coast.
Introduced by Vancouver Quadra MP Joyce Murray in December of last year, Bill C-606 would protect the abundant north coast of BC from catastrophic oil spills by banning the transportation of crude oil by tankers through the dangerous waters of the region. The bill followed a motion introduced by the federal NDP in December in which a majority of the House of Commons voted in favour of a tanker ban.
The attempt to scuttle a tanker ban by the three premiers is seen as compromising BC’s nature-based tourism industry, which brings $1.5 billion annually to BC’s economy and employs approximately 26,000 people, roughly half of whom work on the coast.
“Oil tankers could seriously jeopardize the future for nature-based tourism not only on the coast, but potentially throughout BC, because an oil spill would cause lasting damage to our coast and to BC's reputation,” said Evan Loveless of BC’s Wilderness Tourism Association. “We welcome the business certainty provided by this bill, and prefer legislation over review by a panel whose conclusions can be ignored. In the case of the panel for Enbridge’s Northern Gateway proposal, it doesn’t even include a representative of British Columbia.”
Arnie Nagy, a member of BC’s United Fisherman and Allied Workers Union responded to the breaking news yesterday afternoon by saying “when I heard [Mr. Campbell] signed that [letter], I was furious,” Nagy went on to say that it was “absolutely a betrayal of the people of British Columbia.” Nagy said that the fishing industry employs 5-6,000 people, and is at risk from oil tankers proposed for waters that are notoriously difficult to navigate.“One little accident destroys this entire operation,” Nagy said.
Polls have consistently shown that between 75% and 80% of British Columbians support a ban on tankers on the North Coast, and the Union of BC Municipalities passed a motion last year in support.
“Mr Campbell has been forced out because he didn’t listen, and now he’s ignoring more than 80% of BC as he heads out the door,” said Jennifer Rice of Friends of Wild Salmon. “He's also ignoring the overwhelming voices of northern communities. The public has made it clear: he doesn’t represent British Columbia anymore. I wonder what his potential replacements think?”
Josh Paterson of West Coast Environmental Law added: “A legislative tanker ban is the best and most sensible way to ensure lasting protection of the north coast from the threat of oil spills. This is forward-looking legislation that will allow the continued growth of a sustainable coastal economy, fisheries and tourism that aren't compatible with tanker traffic and oil spills.”
“British Columbians have spoken loud and clear: we will not put our coast at risk and want a ban on tankers to protect coastal communities and the Great Bear Rainforest,” said Nikki Skuce of ForestEthics. “A majority of Canada’s MPs back us up on this issue. Premier Campbell’s position is so off-side with British Columbians that it could only come from someone not running for re-election.”
“Mr. Campbell is telling British Columbians to give away their power to decide what happens to our rivers and our coast, and put the fate of our communities in the hands of a body with zero BC representation,” said Eric Swanson of Dogwood Initiative. “We say forget it. The decision is for British Columbians to make, British Columbians have been clear, and it’s time for both our provincial and federal government to listen.”
More than 80 First Nations in BC have declared their staunch opposition to the proposal for tar sands pipelines and oil tankers in BC. The Coastal First Nations, on the north coast, and the Nations of the Fraser watershed have both declared bans on the transportation of tar sands oil through their lands and waters. A majority of the proposed Enbridge pipeline and tanker route is held by Nations that have imposed such bans.
The BC New Democrats have taken a position in support of a ban on tankers. Federally, the Liberal Party of Canada, the NDP, the Bloc Québécois and the Greens support a tanker ban, while the governing Conservatives voted against December’s tanker ban motion.
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Contact:
Jennifer Rice – Friends of Wild Salmon - 250-600-2455
Nikki Skuce – Forest Ethics – 250-877-7762
Josh Paterson – West Coast Environmental Law Association - 778-829-8973
Eric Swanson – Dogwood Initiative – 250-858-9990
BACKGROUNDER
DEEP OPPOSITION TO OIL TANKERS ON THE COAST – QUESTIONS AS TO FEDERAL PANEL'S ABILITY TO MAKE RIGHT DECISION FOR BRITISH COLUMBIANS
- 2010 polling shows 80% of British Columbians oppose oil tanker traffic on the north coast (Mustel)
- A broad array of British Columbians have signed up to oppose tankers on the coast (see list below)
- The Union of BC Municipalities overwhelmingly passed a motion in support of a legislated tanker ban on the north coast, at their assembly of all cities and towns in BC in 2010.Over 80 First Nations have declared their opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and tankers project, and to the transportation of tar sands crude oil by tanker or pipeline through their territories, waters, and watersheds.
- More than fifty percent of the combined pipeline and tanker route proposed by Enbridge is through the territories of nations that have not only declared their opposition, but have declared that the project violates their unextinguished Indigenous laws. A tanker ban, based in the laws of the Coastal First Nations, is already in force on the north coast through a declaration passed in March 2010. Sixty-one affected nations, from the northern interior to the south coast, passed a ban on the transportation of tar sands crude oil through the Fraser watershed in December 2010.
- The Union of BC Indian Chiefs and the First Nations Summit, provincial organizations whose memberships represent the overwhelming majority of BC First Nations, both passed resolutions opposing the Enbridge pipeline and tankers project at their provincial assemblies.
- The national Assembly of First Nations, including National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, expressed opposition to the project in December 2010.
The federal Joint Review Panel, which Premier Campbell asks British Columbians to rely upon to decide the future of the coast and the north, lacks BC representation
- The National Energy Board Joint Review Panel assessing the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and tankers project has no representation from British Columbia. The members of the panel lack experience in the region, with coastal issues in BC, and with northern BC's unique salmon habitat issues.
- By contrast, the review panel for the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline of a similar length had seven members, of which four were drawn from NWT First Nations and Inuvialuit communities that could be directly impacted by the project.
- The Joint Review Panel's January 19 ruling on the issues it will consider indicates that it will overlook critical issues raised by the proposed pipeline and tankers, which need to be considered in order to make a fully-informed decision about the Enbridge project. For example, the Enbridge environmental assessment:
- will NOT consider the broad climate change and greenhouse gas implications of the project and the related increase in tar sands production, or the impact of the Enbridge project on Canada’s international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
- will NOT consider the land, water, air, health and social impacts of the increased tar sands developments facilitated by this pipeline;
- will NOT consider the environmental and climate change impacts of burning the oil and fuel that travels through Enbridge pipelines and tankers; and,
- will NOT consider the question of whether this tar sands pipeline scheme should be a part of Canada’s energy future, given the need to transition away from fossil fuels.
- The Joint Review Panel will also not consider the broader implications of opening up the north coast of BC to crude oil tankers for the first time.
Businesses and organizations in support of a ban on oil tankers through BC’s Pacific North Coast
BUSINESSES
Adaptive Computer Services
Bear Claw Lodge
Beyond Expectations Communication & Design Solutions
Bluewater Adventures
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers
Denman Island Chocolate
Designs In Mind
Digital Minds
Eagle Dancer Enterprises
Ecosummer Expeditions
Fish Tales Fly and Tackle
Great Bear Nature Tours
Gyger Guided Fishing Adventures
Innate
Island Expeditions
King Pacfic Lodge
Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures
KLK Landscape
Maple Leaf Adventures
McBike Terrace
Metlakatla Development Corporation
Metlakatla Ferry Service Ltd.
Mothership Adventures
Mykiss Guiding Services
Nicholas Dean Outdoors Inc.
North Pacific Kelp
North Coast Anglers
Northcoast Concrete Finishing and Construction
Northern Bounty Fishing
NorthWest Quality Contracting
Nourishing Life Acupuncture
Ocean Adventures Charter Company
Oceanwild Nature Expeditions
Oilfree Technologies Inc.
Olan Garden and Gift
Orcella Expeditions
Patagonia
Sail Piraeus Adventures
Seashore Charters
Seattle Aero, LLC
Sitka Solutions
Sorochan Wood and Metal
Spirit of the West Adventures
Stubbs Island Whale Watching
Sweetwater Travel Company
Terrapin Homebuilding
Thunder 1 Adventures
Totem Press
Wild Lotus Studios
Z-Boat Lodge River Guides Ltd.
ORGANIZATIONS
Alaska Centre for the Environment
Alaska Wilderness League
Alberni Environmental Coalition
Alberni Social Justice Group
BC Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists)
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation
British Columbia Council of Professional Fish Harvesters
British Columiba Sustainable Energy Association
British Columbia Wetlands Society
Broughton Archipelago Stewardship Project
Busan Education Training Institute
Canadian EarthCare Society
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
Central Coast Chamber of Commerce
Check Your Head
Citizens' Council on Corporate Issues
Clearwater Biodiversity Project
Commercial Bear Viewing Association of BC
Cook Inlet Keeper
David Suzuki Foundation
Dogwood Initiative
Douglas Channel Watch
Driftwood Foundation
Eastern Canada Chapter of the Sierra Club
Ecology Action Centre
Ecology North
Environmental Defence Canada
Environmental Club Hammond HS
Environmental Commission of the Anglican Diocese of BC
Environmental Mining Council of BC
Environmental Youth Alliance
First Nations Environmental Network
Forest Action Network
ForestEthics
FORPA Forest Protection Allies
Friends of Boundary Bay
Friends of Clayoquot Sound
Friends of Cortes Island
Friends of Renewable Energy
Friends of the Tlell
Friends of Wild Salmon
Georgia Strait Alliance
Green Party of BC
Greengrass Institute
Greenpeace Canada
GSX Concerned Citizens Coalition
Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association
Haida Gwaii Marine Resources Group Association
Headwaters Initiative
International Fund for Animal Welfare - Canada
International Network of Forests and Communities
International Year of the Tiger
Intervention Coalition on Sable Gas Project
Labour Community Fisheries
Letters for Animals Habitat Development Centre Society
Living Oceans Society
Malcolm Island Environmental Protection Society
Mayne Island Naturalists
Mississippi 2020 Network Inc.
MV "Orca Song"
Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
Natural Resources Defense Council
Nature Alberta (Federation of Alberta Naturalists)
Nature Canada
Nature Saskatchewan
Nelson EcoCentre of British Columbia
North Coast Cetacean Society
North Graham Island Streamkeepers Society
Northwest Environmental Advocates
Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society
North West Watch
Northwest Institute
Oceana
Oceans Blue Foundation
Oceans Conservancy Alaska
Oilwatch Europe
Oilwatch Mesoamerica
Ontario Nature
Out of the Clamshell
Pacific Wild
Pacific Biodiversity Institute
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations
Pacific Orca Society, ORCALAB
Pembina Institute
Peoples Action for Threatened Habitat
PowerUp Canada
Prince Rupert Environmental Society
Prince Rupert Labour Council
Puget Sound Gillnetters Assoc.
Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers
Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Rainforest Relief
Reach for Unbleached
Rivershed Society of BC
Round River Conservation Studies
Save Our Mother Ocean
Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC
Seasmoke/ Sea Orca Whale Watching
Sea to Sands Conservation Alliance
Sierra Club (US), National Marine Wildlife and Habitat Committee
Sierra Club of BC
Sierra Club of Canada
Sierra Club, Haida Gwaii Chapter
Sierra Club, South Carolina
Sierra Legal Defence Fund
Skeena Angling Guides Association
Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition
SkeenaWild Conservation Trust
Society for Conservation Biology, UVIC Chapter
Society Promoting Environmental Conservation
Songbird Project
Steelhead Society of BC - Northern Branch
Struggle to Economize Future Environment (SEFE)
Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA)
Surfrider Canada Foundation
Surfrider, California
Surfrider Foundation USA
Sustainable Communities Consultancy
T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation
The Campaigns Group of Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific (United World Colleges)
The Edmonds Institute
The Marine Connection
TREES-Temperate Rainforest Environmental Education Society
Tropico Verde
United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union – Canadian Autoworkers (UFAWU-CAW)
Valhalla Wilderness Society
Voice For All Animals
Watershed Sentinel
Watershed Watch Salmon Society
WaveLength Paddling Magazine
West Coast Environmental Law
Western Canada Wilderness Committee
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
Wilderness Tourism Association
World Wildlife Fund Canada
Yukon Conservation Society