Public review shows federal government should not lift oil and gas moratorium

November 19, 2004 -

VANCOUVER – Today’s release of the federal public review panel report on offshore oil shows British Columbians have overwhelmingly concluded that oil drilling on the province’s coast is not in the public’s best interests, says the David Suzuki Foundation.

 

The federal review panel found that 75 per cent of British Columbians supported maintaining the federal moratorium that prevents oil and gas drilling and exploration on the coast. It also builds on yesterday’s Supreme Court of Canada ruling that requires meaningful consultation with First Nations before any action can take place.

 

“The people of British Columbia have spoken and they clearly recognize that the risks associated with offshore drilling and exploration far outweigh the benefits,” says Bill Wareham, acting director of marine conservation for the David Suzuki Foundation. “Offshore oil drilling would actually hamper opportunities for more sustainable economic development on the coast while putting critical marine habitat at risk.”

 

The report’s conclusions recognized that there are “significant information gaps regarding biophysical baseline data and environmental and socio-economic impact information for the QCR, if oil and gas activities were to proceed.” However, it also leaves the door open to options that could involve oil exploration to learn more about the area’s fossil fuel potential.

 

“Exploration is one of the most environmentally damaging phases of oil drilling,” says Mr. Wareham. “Numerous studies have found that the high-pressure seismic guns used in exploration can kill and harm marine life, including fish and marine mammals like whales. This is exactly the kind of activity that the pubic has spoken out against.”

 

Mr. Wareham points out that a congressional moratorium on offshore oil development in the United States was initiated in 1982. It has since been vocally supported by Republican Governor Jeb Bush of Florida and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California.

 

“The American moratorium was put in place due to the risks and uncertainties regarding offshore oil,” says Mr. Wareham. “Those risks and uncertainties still exist today and Canadians are clearly concerned about the damage of oil drilling on existing industries like fishing and tourism.”

 

Mr. Wareham notes that tourism on B.C.’s coast brings billions of dollars to the economy every year, and keeping that revenue requires maintaining the province’s image of “Beautiful B.C.”

 

“It is clear from this report that it is in the best interests of British Columbians to maintain the moratorium,” says Mr. Wareham. “It is the federal government’s duty to respect that.”

 

For more information, contact:

 

Dave Taylor

Communications Manager

604-732-4228