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E-mail Transport Canada Minister John Baird and DFO Minister Gail Shea and urge them to improve shipping safety on B.C.’s coast.
Please urge the government departments responsible for shipping to protect the British Columbia coast by permanently banning massive crude oil tankers, improving oil spill response capabilities and strengthening shipping regulations so that B.C. is not the site of the world’s next disastrous oil spill. There are over 400,000 vessel movements along our coast each year, and over the next 15 years the number of ships moving through coastal waters is predicted to more than triple, yet the accident response capabilities and preparedness have not kept pace. Nonetheless, the federal government is considering allowing huge crude oil tankers along the north and central coast of B.C. Accidents continue to occur and the ability to respond adequately does not exist. For example, we need look no further than the loaded fuel truck sitting on the seabed in Robson Bight, oil leaking from the sunken Queen of the North ferry, and Bunker C oil from the Westwood Anette which is stll a blight on the Squamish Estuary. According to international spill statistics, there have been 185 tanker spills of seven tonnes or more over the last 10 years. Globally, tanker spills of 700 tonnes or larger have occurred an average of 4.7 times annually over the last 10 years. Clearly, when it comes to transporting oil by ocean tankers, it is not a question of if a spill will happen, but rather when and how disastrous it will be. |
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Fill out this form to send an email to Ministers Baird and Shea with the message below (follow the orange arrows). |
YOUR MESSAGE: Dear Ministers Baird and Shea: I am writing to ask you to place a permanent ban on oil tanker traffic on the coast of British Columbia, improve oil spill response capabilities and strengthen shipping regulations so that B.C. is not the site of the world’s next disastrous oil spill. B.C. marine waters are ecologically important. From the whales that migrate along the coast to the rockfish that dwell in the kelp forests, the marine ecosystem of B.C. is rich and diverse. As you are no doubt aware, the ocean produces approximately half of the planet’s oxygen. Keeping this ecosystem healthy is critical in our efforts to combat climate change. There are over 400,000 vessel movements along the coast each year, and over the next 15 years the number of ships moving through coastal waters is predicted to more than triple, yet accident response capabilities and preparedness have not kept pace. The federal government must take immediate action by enforcing the current tanker moratorium and improving oil spill response capabilities. In addition, the PNCIMA marine planning process for the North and Central Coast of B.C. needs to examine the amount of shipping traffic on our coast, current shipping regulations, financial liability, and our ability to respond to accidents for long term planning. I am also concerned about current plans to build numerous pipelines across northern B.C. to transport oil from the tar sands to port terminals in Prince Rupert and Kitimat. If these mega-project proposals for pipelines and marine terminals are permitted to proceed, over 300 tankers would travel through B.C.’s coastal waters every year. The only way to protect our coast from the next massive oil spill is by enforcing and strengthening the long standing moratorium on oil tankers. The B.C. coastal economy relies on a clean and healthy ocean. Tourism, commercial and recreational fishing are the economic foundation of many communities. Allowing oil tankers to ply these waters, or failing to improve shipping regulations and oil spill response capabilities, would put at risk the livelihoods of the people who work and live on the coast. For motivation you need look no farther than the loaded fuel truck in Robson Bight, oil leaking from the sunken Queen of the North, and the Squamish Estuary which is still covered in Bunker C oil from the Westwood Anette. I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, |
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