Hansard October 20, 2009
G. Coons: The rain forest coast of British Columbia is the largest remaining intact temperate rain forest left in the world. While it is often the beauty of our rain forest which captivates visitors, it is the productiveness of these forests that makes them so vital. They feature the highest biomass per hectare of any ecosystem on earth. They provide critical habitat for diversity of wildlife and provide spawning and rearing habitat for five species of Pacific salmon.
Last week was World Rainforest Week. Every year the Rainforest Action Network takes this opportunity to highlight rain forest destruction around the world. Usually we think of the rape and pillage of the Amazon rain forest, but this year the network highlighted a little-known threat that tar sands development poses to the temperate rain forests in British Columbia.
Our rain forest, the Great Bear that stretches the entire central coast all the way to the Alaskan border, is being threatened by the most destructive project on the planet, the tar sands of Alberta. Despite the illogical push from all governments to expand tar sands and strip mining, many comprehend the implications. Spills along the 1,100 kilometre pipeline are certain, but the real threat to B.C.’s rain forest is a shipping route that will carry tar sands by supertankers through 110 kilometres of narrow inlets.
The people of British Columbia aren’t fooled. A recent poll found that 72 percent of British Columbians want oil tankers banned, and first nations are very clear where they stand. The Haida “will certainly not accept tanker traffic in our waters.” The Gitga’at: “There is nothing but risk in this whole process.” The Wet’suwet’en: “We don’t want it.” The Haisla: “We will not allow any project including Enbridge to proceed if it illegally infringes on our constitutionally protected rights.”
Last month northwest residents dodged a bullet when a boat freighter ran aground at full speed outside Kitimat, luckily with no environmental damage. Had this been an oil tanker with full payload, it could have been catastrophic. Last week World Rainforest Week helped strengthen my resolve to protect our Great Bear rain forest.