Keep BC's Coast Tanker Free

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

RE: Keep BC's Coast Tanker Free

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

British Columbia's coastal waters are a global treasure and a cradle of life for the northwest Pacific Ocean. In 1972 the Government of Canada imposed a moratorium on oil tankers traveling off the coast because of widespread concerns over the potential environmental impacts of a spill.

The tanker moratorium was applauded at home and abroad as appropriate to protect the ecological richness of these coastal waters. These waters give life to at least 7,000 marine species, including 400 species of fish, 6500 species of invertebrates, 121 species birds and 29 species of marine mammals.

Since the tanker moratorium was put in place, eight successive Prime Ministers have respected and enforced it.

Recently, Minister of Natural Resources, Gary Lunn, has been denying the existence of the moratorium. Abandoning the moratorium is a significant reversal in government policy that should not be considered. I am writing to ask you to enforce and strengthen the moratorium on tanker traffic that has protected this vital region of Canada for over 35 years.

The economic life of B.C.'s coastal communities is intrinsically linked to the health and abundance of the ocean. A 2006 IBM Business Consulting study concluded wild salmon generate $110 million in revenue in the Skeena region alone. The many species of whales, birds and sea life that inhabit our waters help generate tourism revenue and employment valued at over $850 million per year, 40 percent of which comes from marine-based businesses. The future of these jobs, communities and coastal cultures would be placed at risk if tankers are allowed into coastal waters and oil spills occur.

The legacy we leave our children must be the wealth, beauty and abundance of our globally unique coastal ecosystems. I hope that you will reconsider your government's recent denial of the moratorium on tanker traffic and respond responsibly by enforcing legislation that will protect coastal waters from tanker traffic.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Paul Malouf
(source: Oil Free Coast)

CC: B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell,
Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn