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Federal offshore oil and gas review deeply flawedOctober 15, 2003 - VANCOUVER - The first component of the federal government review of its 31-year moratorium on West Coast offshore oil and gas exploration – science workshops coordinated by the Royal Society of Canada – begin here tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 15 for three days. The David Suzuki Foundation is extremely concerned about the narrow scope of these workshops because if the federal government is considering lifting the moratorium then a much more rigorous scientific process is required. Many crucial scientific issues are not being adequately addressed such as risk assessment and Canada’s commitments to the Kyoto protocol, said Otto Langer, director of the Suzuki Foundation’s marine conservation program. “This has been a very rushed process. Scientists only had 10 days to submit a summary of their research if they wanted to appear before the panel,” Mr. Langer said. “And of those chosen to present research, a disproportionate percentage are from industry. For example, two presentations are being made on risk assessment and both of them are by industry representatives – one from Shell and the other an oil and gas consultant.” Risk assessment is critical in determining how to proceed on this controversial issue, and to hear only from industry representatives is irresponsible, Mr. Langer said, adding that it is very important to consult with scientists on the West Coast who are conducting leading-edge research in universities, government and independently. “What the federal government is essentially doing, through the Royal Society of Canada, is holding an industry review of offshore oil and gas issues, not an independent and impartial scientific analysis,” he said. “Rather than addressing real and potential scientific concerns, this review is mostly looking at mitigating the impacts of offshore exploration.” On Canada’s East Coast, a federal review panel spent three months examining just one aspect of offshore oil and gas – the seismic effects of exploration, while only seven days total are being dedicated to scientific issues on the entire West Coast. “It is hard to understand how the federal government can justify this as a real scientific examination,” said Mr. Langer. “It is also very disappointing that a BC Member of Parliament, Herb Dhaliwal, is leading this review and is not interested in thoroughly examining all the issues.” The David Suzuki Foundation submitted a scientific brief and requested standing before the panel but was refused. The hearings are being held from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17 at the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, 1128 West Hastings St., Vancouver. For more information, please call Otto Langer or Jean Kavanagh
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