Whereas the Province of British Columbia has declared that Canada should become a world leader in marine spill prevention, preparedness and response and has stated its concern about the current level of marine protection and potential spill response available on Canadas West Coast; And whereas the Province of British Columbia is acting on the development and implementation of such protection and response but requires cooperation and support from the federal government in order to implement most of the recommendations it has identified to strengthen Canadian capacity for marine oil spill prevention, preparedness and response on Canadas West Coast; Therefore be it resolved that UBCM and FCM support the Province of British Columbias position with respect to the need for world-class marine oil spill prevention, preparedness and response, and call on the federal government to support and co-operate with BC to the fullest extent, committing sufficient resources, to achieve the highest level of spill prevention, preparedness and response capacity on Canadas West Coast.
Ministry of Environment One of governments five conditions for supporting heavy oil pipelines is world-class marine spill prevention, preparedness, response and recovery systems for B.C.s coastline and oceans, in order to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy-oil pipelines and shipments. In support of oil spill prevention and preparedness, the Ministry contracted Nuka Research, an international expert in the field, to deliver a three volume report which lays the foundation for building a world-class marine spill response and preparedness system. The Province is encouraged by the initial steps the federal government has taken towards a world class tanker safety system, and will continue to work with the federal government, local governments, First Nations, industry and other key stakeholders. In Spring 2016, B.C. passed legislation to enable the creation of a world-leading provincial spill regime. We envision setting regulations that can apply to both land and marine environments which will help close the gaps with respect to spill response. Some future regulations will apply to spills into or affecting the marine environment where the province has jurisdiction with respect to the environment. Examples include spill reporting, notification and restoration. Consultation with federal agencies will be on-going on these topics. We still have work to do and will continue working with Transport Canada and Environment Climate Change Canada to ensure B.C. interests are met on the marine safety front and that public safety and protection of the environment remain paramount.
Minister of Natural Resources Our government recognizes that economic development and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. We need to develop our resources in a sustainable manner, and we have to be able to move energy resources safely within Canada and to the global marketplace. Through the recently announced Oceans Protection Plan, we will take action to create a world-leading marine safety system, restore and protect marine ecosystems and habitats, strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities, and invest in oil spill clean-up methods and research. A key feature of the Oceans Protection Plan is ensuring that funds are easily accessible for response and clean-up in case of an incident. Cleaning up spills in our oceans is the responsibility of the polluter. Together, these actions will improve marine safety, support economic growth, and help protect the environment on all Canadas coasts. We will invest 1.5 billion in long-needed coastal protections. On November 29, 2016, our government rejected Enbridges Northern Gateway pipeline proposal and imposed a moratorium on crude oil tanker traffic along British Columbias north coast, preserving the sensitive ecosystem of the Douglas Channel and the Great Bear Rainforest and sea for future generations. We have advanced initiatives to strengthen Canadas pipeline safety system through the Pipeline Safety Act, which came into force on June 19, 2016. This Act enshrines the polluter pays principle into law and puts in place new measures to strengthen incident prevention, preparedness and response, and liability and compensation for federal pipelines. Together with our work to modernize the National Energy Board and review environmental assessment processes, this will help ensure Canadians have confidence that pipelines are built and operated in a manner that is safe for the environment and the public. We are also working hard on a number of fronts to develop our resources in a sustainable manner. We will continue to work closely with the British Columbia government, our provincial counterparts, Indigenous Peoples, and other key interested parties to ensure the highest standards of public and environmental safety are met while creating economic opportunity.