Canada’s new government is moving ahead with a promised indefinite ban on oil tankers visiting the north coast of British Columbia on the country’s west coast, according to CBC News.
The order came from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau whose Liberal Party won the October 19 general election by a landslide, ousting Stephen Harper’s Conservatives. The ban had been part of the Liberals’ election platform.
Trudeau has instructed the relevant government agencies – led by Transport and including fisheries, natural resources and environment – to put the ban into action.
One large knock-on effect of the decision is likely to be the end of the planned Northern Gateway pipeline project. It would have delivered oil sands crude from Alberta province where it is abundant to Kitimat Port in B.C. from where it would have been shipped to markets in Asia.
In a plebiscite, the citizens of Kitimat, BC, have already rejected Enbridge and the Northern Gateway pipeline. This pipeline was a stupid idea to begin with, because there is no equipment to clean-up a toxic, tar sands spill. British Columbia’s ecology and environment are too fragile for tar sands spill. Remember the Kalamazoo.
Family lived on those Alberta Oils Sands, now I am not far from the Kalamazoo, was by the Yellowstone River, won’t forget those spills. Or BP in the gulf either. Isn’t it time for solar anyway? How about shipping solar panels instead. Thanks, Canada. Send some solar panels up and down the coast instead. No equipment to clean up spills because that cuts into profits, now doesn’t it? Stick to solar. Helps us stay out of wars, too.