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North Coast oil tanker ban one step closer to becoming law

Photo Shutterstock Legislation to ban tankers carrying over 12,500 metric tons (MT) of oil from stopping, loading or unloading at ports along the North Coast of B.C. has passed the House of Commons in a 204-85 vote.

 Photo ShutterstockPhoto Shutterstock

Legislation to ban tankers carrying over 12,500 metric tons (MT) of oil from stopping, loading or unloading at ports along the North Coast of B.C. has passed the House of Commons in a 204-85 vote.

Environmental advocacy groups and Coastal First Nations are celebrating and say Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Actnow moves to the Senate for consideration before becoming law.

“Our communities have been fighting to keep oil tankers out of our waters for at least 40 years,” says Coastal First Nation's (CFN) senior policy advisor Paul Kariya in a statement. “The Coastal First Nations have lived in our territories for more than 14,000 years and have a collective responsibility – along with all British Columbians and Canadians – to protect our lands, waters and resources.”

CFN is an alliance that includes the Wuikinuxv Nation, Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai’xais, Nuxalk, Gitga’at, Metlakatla, Old Massett, Skidegate, and Council of the Haida Nation.

The bill was tabled a year ago by Transport Minister Marc Garneau and would cover an area from the north tip of Vancouver Island to Alaska with penalties of up to $5 million for violations.

The Chiefs Council, representing over 30 communities engaged in the First Nations-led Eagle Spirit Energy pipeline project have launched a GoFundMe page fundraise for the legal and administrative costs needed to "quash" the government's Oil Tanker Moratorium Act.

The Chief's Council alleges that foreign-financed ENGOs lobbied the government without the consultation and consent of First Nations.

"We have, and will always, put the protection of the environment first, however, this must be holistically balanced with social welfare, employment, and business opportunities," the Chief's Council says in a release.

West Coast Environmental Law Association's executive director Jessica Clogg says their organization has worked with allies to push for legislation to ban oil tankers on the north Pacific coast since the 1970s. "There is insufficient scientific evidence that shows we could actually clean up an oil spill of diluted bitumen or heavy oil."

"That's very bad news for all of the creatures that make their home in the ocean and for all of the people that make their livelihoods from fishing. For the economies that depend on a clean and healthy ocean," she says.

Clogg adds that the Enbridge Northern Gateway project proposal would have included supertankers carrying at least 12,500 MT. Northern Gateway was killed by the Trudeau government.

The organization has advocated for a lower limit of oil that vessels would be allowed to carry along the North Coast. "You might remember the Nathan E. Stewart spill that occurred in Heiltsuk territory. Unfortunately, this ban would not have prevented that type of transportation. They could have had a much lower limit and still ensured that fuel supplies were able to reach coastal communities."

"Nevertheless, it is quite an amazing thing to see this ban on crude or persistent oil being carried by tankers that are stopping in ports in Northern British Columbia," says Clogg.