For Immediate Release
Sept. 22, 2009
VICTORIA— The B.C. Liberals’ post-election renewed push to lift the ban on coastal oil drilling shows their environmental promises during the campaign were nothing more than hot air, say New Democrats.
“It’s environmental hypocrisy for the B.C. Liberals to boost dirty coastal drilling while claiming that that they care about the environment,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons. “The B.C. Liberals are so out of touch with those on the coast and with the will of the people. They continue their tar sands mentality by putting our coastal waters at jeopardy by promoting offshore oil and gas and planning to run supertankers through the treacherous waters of the inside passage.”
On Monday, Minister of Energy and Mines Blair Lekstrom said that B.C. is raising the issue of offshore oil and gas every chance it gets with the federal government.
“During the election the B.C. Liberals said one thing and then after the election they do the opposite. They claimed they wanted B.C. to become a green, low-carbon economy, but their ongoing push to open up our sensitive coast to oil and gas extraction is just one more case of the Campbell government misleading British Columbians,” said Coons .
New Democrat energy critic John Horgan noted that even with advances in technology there is no such thing as environmentally safe coastal drilling.
“Coastal drilling is a dirty business,” said Horgan. “That’s why offshore oil and gas extraction on our seismically active, sensitive coastline has been off limits for over 30 years, through seven different premiers and governments of all political stripes.”
Horgan also criticized the energy minister’s contention that being in an economic downturn was enough of a reason to ignore longstanding community and environmental concerns.
“There is no consensus on offshore drilling and a government that is sincere about climate change and environmental protection would not try and ram through a policy change of this magnitude without talking to the people that matter, not those in Ottawa, but those on the coast and across British Columbia,” said Horgan. “Mr. Lekstrom needs to recognize he is the Minister of Energy on behalf of the people of B.C. not on behalf of multinational oil companies.”
Carole James and the New Democrats are fighting for an environmental action plan that respects communities, offers families positive choices and commits to concrete action to protect species at risk.
In addition to failing to make investments in closed-containment aquaculture, the green economy and new incentives for clean energy and energy efficiency, the B.C. Liberals’ have a post-election record of environmental failures which includes:
- Eliminating LiveSmart BC and cutting back on Scrap-It.
- Planning to bring in the HST, which will eliminate PST exemptions on clean and energy efficient products, meaning it will cost more to make good environmental choices at home.
- Cutting the budget for environmental protection, parks and protected areas, stewardship, compliance and enforcement and the Climate Action Secretariat by between 10 and 62 per cent.
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Minister Lekstrom says with the current finances of B.C. the way they are, offshore oil and gas revenue would be more welcomed than ever
– CHNL – 10:00 AM – September 21, 2009
Announcer: An old debate that never goes away in this province. B.C.’s Energy Minister today admitting to NL that with the current budget squeeze facing Victoria right now, offshore oil and gas revenue would be more welcomed than ever.
Reporter: Blair Lekstrom says the Province remains interested in exploring for offshore oil and gas if it can be done without harming the environment.
Blair Lekstrom: The benefits it can bring to British Columbians are significant. We face financial pressures each and every day when it comes to the delivery of health care, education, our social programs and we are a resource based economy here in British Columbia and offshore oil and gas is one of those resources that I believe could be a large benefit to British Columbia.
Reporter: Lekstrom says while B.C. raising the issue every chance it gets, it is Ottawa’s call on whether the 30 year moratorium on offshore oil exploration is lifted.