City of Powell River Council provided immediate assent to a resolution calling for a stop to the expansion of crude oil pipelines and bitumen tanker traffic on the BC coast.
Janet May appeared as a delegation before council on Thursday, October 16, to outline concerns about the Northern Gateway Pipeline project. She presented a resolution on behalf of the citizens of Powell River.
“In my work in forestry, and as an educator in the school system for the environmental education program,” May said, “I always feel very responsible for understanding how we need to protect the habitat of the creatures that live in the oceans, on the shoreline and in the forests of BC.”
She said she is not alone in feeling threatened by the proposal for supertankers to traverse BC coastal waters to transport bitumen delivered by pipelines from Alberta for exportation to Asia.
“In addition to threatening the habitats that I cherish, this is also exporting Canadian jobs,” May said. “Canadians could refine that oil and put it in pipelines going east, where they are importing oil, or even better, Canadians could be developing and producing alternative energy resources and selling those to the world.”
She said there are a number of reasons why putting bitumen in tankers on the coast of BC is a bad idea and she added that there are two that affect Powell River directly.
“When there is an oil spill, the reputation British Columbia has for being a clean and natural place will be blighted,” she said. “That will affect tourism for British Columbia and Powell River.
“When there is an oil spill, we will risk the commercial seafood industry, which supports many families on the coast, including here in Powell River.”
She said the city is a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection Program, with a commitment to reducing greenhouse gases, plus action on climate change.
Council has also signed the Tides Canada statement of support, a “very bold document” that outlines a new energy strategy for Canada.
By adopting the resolution, Powell River would be joining 37 other communities in BC.
“Please don’t think that Powell River is too small to make a difference in this issue. We count,” May said.
Councillor Chris McNaughton made a motion, seconded by Councillor Russell Brewer, to pass the resolution. Council did so unanimously.
The resolution reads:
Whereas proposed bitumen export pipelines and the resulting increase in tanker traffic present unacceptable risk to this region’s unique ecosystems, its maritime-based economy, and sustainable jobs in aquaculture, fisheries, tourism and recreation;
And whereas the City of Powell River supports a thoughtful energy strategy that protects our natural heritage, respects deep Canadian values of fairness and inclusiveness, protects Canadian jobs, and safeguards the interests of all Canadians:
Be it resolved that the City of Powell River expresses its opposition to bitumen export pipeline proposals that would lead to the expansion of oil tanker traffic through BC’s coastal waters;
And be it further resolved that the City of Powell River urges the provincial government to use whatever means are available to stop the expansion of crude oil and bitumen tanker traffic on our coast and to notify provincial and federal government representatives and officials of this resolution.
