Energy and Climate Change

SOINTULA, B.C.— If Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline is approved, Canadian taxpayers could be on the hook for billions of dollars to cover the clean up and compensation costs in the event of a catastrophic oil tanker spill, claims Living Oceans Society in a report titled Financial Vulnerability Assessment: Who Would Pay for Oil Tanker Spills Associated with the Northern Gateway Pipeline written by the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Victoria.

February 24, 2011

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 B.C.’s Pacific North Coast.

SOINTULA, B.C.— A report by Living Oceans Society has identified numerous safety concerns associated with double-hull tankers, including corrosion and stress levels, that make the vessels an unsuitable panacea for oil spill prevention.

Vancouver, B.C. – Enbridge is attempting to dampen mounting opposition to their Northern Gateway proposal by reassuring Canadians that they will use “state of the art” technology in an oil spill cleanup – even though there has been no improvement to those same ineffective methods which were used by BP in the Gulf of Mexico catastrophe one year ago today.

Vancouver, B.C. -- On World Oceans Day, groups working to protect B.C.’s coast from oil spills are congratulating the federal NDP for choosing to make their first substantive policy proposal as Canada’s Official Opposition a private member’s bill to ban oil supertankers from Canada’s Pacific North Coast.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – A new report released today shines a light on the dangers associated with transporting tar sands oil by Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway project, both along the pipeline pathway and on B.C.’s sensitive coast, which massive oil tankers would be navigating  for the first time. The report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Pembina Institute and Living Oceans Society, has also been endorsed by nine British Columbia organizations,

Sointula, B.C. – Transport Canada’s review of the marine transportation components for Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project offers empty reassurances on the safety of the proposed oil tanker routes. Due to the fact that the studies reviewed were paid for and conducted by Enbridge, it is unsurprising that a summary of the reports supports Enbridge’s position.

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Living Oceans Society today condemned the Christy Clark government’s long-awaited announcement of its position on the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and tanker proposal.

In the wake of Lori Waters’ stunning revelation that Enbridge is misleading the public with its Northern Gateway public relations materials, Living Oceans has released a video that provides a much more accurate picture of the navigation hazards that would be faced if the pipeline company were permitted to run Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) through Douglas Channel.

VANCOUVER — Critics of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and tanker proposal welcomed today’s announcement by B.C.’s Official Opposition that there must be a “made in B.C.” decision on this project.

The provincial Opposition said today that B.C. should go its own way in reviewing the Enbridge proposal and committed to crafting a tailored assessment process, rather than using the standard B.C. Environmental Assessment Act approach.