M.P. Talks With Communities About Banning Oil Tanker Traffic

Monday, March 21, 2011 03:55 AM

Prince George, B.C. – Vancouver-Quadra M.P Joyce Murray has been criss-crossing the province talking with British Columbians about her private members bill aimed at banning oil tankers from B.C.’s north cost.

Bill C-606, is an Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. It is supposed to proceed to debate at second reading at the end of this month, unless an election is called, in which case the bill dies.

Murray’s bill, would put into legislation the moratorium on oil tanker traffic on the north west coast established during the Pierre Trudeau era.

Specifically, the bill would ban tanker traffic in the inland waters of Haida Gwaii (Dixon entrance) Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound.

Murray spent much of the end of last week meeting with people in Kitimat, Terrace and Prince Rupert. She says people are telling her, they don’t want tanker traffic “The vast majority are telling me it’s not worth the risk that B.C. and this region gets few of the benefits and all of the risk .”

Murray says people are surprised to hear there is no legislation that would prevent tanker traffic in the area “What people are saying is that they believe there has always been a moratorium on tanker traffic in the inland waters, they didn’t realize there was no legislation or law, they thought there was.”

While Murray says it will be an election issue for some people, notably those who are running in B.C. coastal ridings, she does not see this issue as becoming a national issue “ A poll a year ago , a large sample, 8 out of ten British Columbians want that ban continued in the waters around Haida Gwaii.”

The legislation comes at a time when Enbridge is under a review process for its project which would see crude piped to Kitimat, then loaded on to tankers and shipped to other markets. Most First Nations along the pipeline route are opposing the pipeline and those along the coast line opposed to oil tanker traffic. “People have spoken about what they want, I think British Columbia should have a say in this decision, not a panel, that doesn’t have a single British Columbian on it.”

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Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 03:55 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Surefire on March 21 2011 10:51 AM

I don't want oil tanker traffic on the west coast either. We all know the history of Enbridge and their handling of oil. Our tourism industry is just now begining to realize the value of this area. It doesn't need an oil slobering pipeline going through it.

Posted by: He spoke on March 21 2011 11:38 AM

I got idea.... why don't we put the port on the west side of Haida Gwaii. We can put in a tap on that side, and then its not on the inside passage. We will just lay some pipe on the ocean bottom.

Posted by: gamblor on March 21 2011 5:51 PM

This prevents nothing. More oil will simply be shipped out of Vancouver. Is a spill on the south coast any more desirable than a spill on the north coast? No it is not. This MP is in Kinder Morgan's pocket - an Enbridge competitor that already ships tarsands oil out of Van. and wants to send more. The Kinder Morgan pipe already runs through the Fraser Headwaters. They are shipping more crude than the pipeline was designed for due to heavy demand. Does that sound environmentally responsible? Just another politician lining her pockets and crying foul.

Posted by: bowzone_mikey on March 21 2011 6:19 PM

heck no ... if BC opposes this ... enbridge or whatever company it may be ... will bypass Kitimat ... head about 100 miles north to Ketchikan(sp) Alaska ... and build the port there... BC will lose the revenue ... and still be at risk of oil spills in the area ... .. Nothing gained and still stand to lose everything

the tankers wont be in BC waters ... but currents from American waters flow into BC waters ...

Its gonna happen no matter what .... I personally would like to see some economic benifit to BC.

I wish people can look and see beyond the end of their own nose

Posted by: But on March 21 2011 8:31 PM

How are they going to go from the tar sands to Alaska without going through BC?
I am sure enbridge isn't interested in totally redoing the route after all the work they have already done. They will just have to cancel the project.

Posted by: bowzone_mikey on March 21 2011 8:39 PM

Not much effort to divert ...

the dollar figures involved ... it wont get cancelled

Posted by: Harbinger on March 22 2011 12:45 PM

All of our west coast oil needs gonna come from the east if they ban tankers? Maybe some wit can design an "oil tanker prairie schooner" to bring our oil to the west. That might work.