Off Shore Oil & Gas Exploration Gets ’ÄúThumbs Down’Äù from British Columbians

After a Federal Government public review, British Columbians have clearly stated they do not want oil and gas development off BC’Äôs coast. The question is, will governments listen?

Since 1972, Canada’Äôs Pacific coast has been protected from offshore oil and gas development by both provincial and federal moratoria. With great pressure from the BC government the federal moratorium is under review. Recent public hearings by the federal Ministry of Natural Resources show that most British Columbians want the moratorium to remain in place. Public comment, combined with a science review and First Nations engagement process, will soon determine the fate of BC’Äôs magnificent coast.

In the 1960s, over 9 million hectares of coastal waters were leased out to oil companies without any consideration for the marine environment, first nations, or coastal communities. The lease area, which ranges from the south end of Vancouver Island to the north end of Queen Charlotte Island, lies within the traditional territory of many First Nations. Until the rights and title of these First Nations have been resolved it is unclear if the federal government can permit offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction. Some of these First Nations have already clearly stated their support for maintaining the moratorium on offshore oil and gas in their coastal waters.

The over riding concern of citizens is the great potential for devastating oil spills--not to mention the negative effects of seismic activity during exploration phases. The inhospitable north coast of British Columbia is subject to hurricane forces winds several times in a normal winter. Problems will almost certainly arise putting at risk the most biologically diverse, unspoiled temperate coastal marine habitat left on earth.

What is truly ironic about the BC Liberal government’Äôs pro-oil position is that the British Columbia coastal region is wealthy in renewable energy: rich in low-impact high-head hydro electricity and excellent wind energy sites, renewable energy could be developed cost effectively and sold on the North American market for premium prices without adding any carbon dioxide to the earth’Äôs atmosphere.

Send your comments to the Government of Canada now!
Take action at www.oilfreecoast.org and send a free, fast and easy fax showing your support to maintain the moratorium on offshore oil and gas.


Informative sites opposing offshore Oil & Gas Exploration:

www.oilfreecoast.org/about.htm

www.davidsuzuki.org/Oceans/CoastalOil/

www.livingoceans.org

www.cpawsbc.org/action/oilandgas/

www.wildernesscommittee.org/campaigns/marine/policy/oil

www.sierraclub.ca/national/oil-and-gas-exploration/prc-briefs.html

www.sustainability.ca/index.cfm?Mid=66&k1=614

www.greenpeace.ca/e/campaign/climate_energy/depth/oog/index.php

www.greenpeace.ca/e/campaign/climate_energy/documents/BC_wind_ene
rgy.pdf