But lawyers say the south coast should not become a sacrifice zone for another south coast pipeline, call on Alberta to abandon pipeline and tanker plans
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER
West Coast Environmental Law is responding to the Canada-BC “Cooperative Prosperity Agreement” announced today by Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Mark Carney. The agreement includes a wide array of commitments – including an agreement to keep the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act in place – but lawyers note that the lack of detail around those commitments leaves many questions still unanswered.
“Upholding the north coast oil tanker ban is the right decision,” said Georgia Lloyd-Smith, Staff Lawyer. “Communities and First Nations have fought for decades to keep the coast safe from the threat of oil spills, and to develop a robust, sustainable economy that relies on a healthy coast and ocean. An oil spill in this region would be devastating to local communities and livelihoods, and to the world-renowned wildlife and ecosystems of the Great Bear Sea.”
With hours remaining before the Alberta government’s anticipated announcement about a proposed oil pipeline and tankers project, and with Premier Smith’s preferred northern route facing continued roadblocks, all signs point to this pipeline announcement being directed to a terminal on the south coast. But a potential tanker terminal in the Salish Sea – combined with BC and Canada’s support for increased shipping from the port at Roberts Bank – carries significant risks for the environment, including critically-endangered southern resident killer whales, as well as increased oil spill risk for the densely populated Lower Mainland.
“While Canada has committed more funding to protect whales, no amount of money can compensate for removing legal protections under the Species at Risk Act, which the federal government is proposing, or eliminate the threats posed by a significant increase in shipping and crude oil tanker traffic,” said Anna Johnston, Staff Lawyer. “Enough with the grand bargains – some things are too precious to sacrifice. It is time for Alberta to recognize the environmental, legal and financial risks of any new oil pipeline and tanker proposal and stand down.”
In addition to the lack of detail surrounding specific commitments in the Canada-BC agreement, lawyers highlighted some of the key issues that went unaddressed in today’s announcement. These include the implications of the federal government’s recent proposal to roll back key environmental laws and impact assessments for major projects. Carney and Eby were also silent on whether and how they will ensure any new pipeline and tankers project does not proceed without the consent of impacted First Nations, including those opposed to a BC south coast route affecting Fraser River salmon and southern resident killer whales.
West Coast Environmental Law will continue to analyze today’s agreement and its implications as we await news on the Alberta oil pipeline and tanker proposal.
West Coast lawyers will be available for comment following the Alberta pipeline announcement later today.
For more information, please contact:
Georgia Lloyd-Smith, Staff Lawyer (BC)
[email protected], 604-817-3940
Eugene Kung, Staff Lawyer (BC)
[email protected], 604-601-2514
Anna Johnston, Staff Lawyer (Ottawa)
[email protected], 604-340-2304